I will be cycling around 300 miles or so from London to Paris to raise money for Cancer Research UK, and specifically for research into CUP (Cancer of Unknown Primary). I will be joining 30 or so “athletes” who all have one person in common, our dear friend Fi.

 

Fi was 35 when she stood in my kitchen last August, pregnant and married to her beloved Jon. She was a picture of health and happiness, apart from a troublesome cough. This March, 7 months later, she passed away with her family by her side. Cancer had robbed her of a life full of the things we desire – spouse, family, friends and longevity. Most of us have a Fi – typically the life and soul of the party. She was a wonderful person, full of laughter, wit and fun, and we were blessed to call her our friend.

 

So how come Fi isn’t with us?

 

In the autumn of 2012 she was diagnosed with secondary cancer of the lungs. Unfortunately the lung cancer was a symptom of another cancer somewhere else in her body that had spread to the lungs. This is known as CUP or Cancer of Unknown Primary.

 

CUP has been a neglected cancer, despite killing as many people as Breast Cancer in any given year. So with Cancer Research UK, we have set up Friends of Fi to raise money which will fund research into the best treatments for Fi's type of cancer. We need your support to help raise awareness of this awful disease, giving its sufferers a much needed voice & greater chance for survival.

 

 

The Arch to Arc is our way of remembering Fi. We are trying raise some much needed funds whilst bringing friends together for a common goal. Depending on how fit, fat or mad the participant our goal is to get to Paris from London by running and cycling. For the fitter they will be running the 80 miles to Dover over 2 days and then joining the rest who have cycled the 80miles. We will then continue the 200+ miles to Paris over the next 2 days.

 

We hoped to do this event and share a glass of champagne on the Champs Elysee with Fi at the end. Sadly we won't get that chance but we can still do the event, raise the money, toast her memory and promise to never forget her. Whilst at the same time we aim to raise a lot of money for a silent killer that does not respect age, colour, sex.