Thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Please give me your support and help me to achieve my targets. 

CANCER RESPECTS NOBODY.  

YOUNG OR OLD, MALE OR FEMALE, WHATEVER RACE OR CREED, CANCER IN ITS MANY FORMS CAN HAVE YOU IN ITS SIGHTS.

WHILST, INEVITABLY, THE PATIENT BEARS THE BRUNT OF THE DISEASE AND ITS TREATMENT, ITS DEBILITATING EFFECTS ARE FELT BY EVERY MEMBER OF THEIR FAMILY 

IT IS TRUE THAT CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT BUT CURES ARE STILL A VERY LONG WAY OFF AND I AM RAISING FUNDS TO HELP CONTINUE THE ALL IMPORTANT RESEARCH  TOWARDS THIS GOAL.

How have I become involved with the QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL BIRMINGHAM CHARITY (QEHB CHARITY)  and what am I doing to raise funds for it?

In 2018, my Wife, Lynn, was diagnosed with Advanced Skin Cancer for which there is currently no cure.  A Malignant Melanoma and Sentinel Lymph Nodes were removed at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.

At that time there was no indication that the Cancer had migrated to any other part of her body.  

However, in June 2019 it was discovered that Lynn had developed a Brain Tumour.  We were devastated.   Its malignancy was confirmed after lengthy and complicated neurological surgery followed by Stereotactic Radiosurgery (CyberKnife), a state-of-the-art machine which offers cutting-edge radiotherapy treatment to head and neck cancer patients.  It delivers a tightly focussed and very high intensity radiotherapy treatment only recently developed.  

At the outset, Lynn had agreed to be included in any relevant Clinical Trials.  She received a course of innovative Immunotherapy which entailed two weekly infusions, quarterly MRI and CT scans and frequent reviews by Oncology and Neurosurgery Consultants.  

This innovative Immunotherapy comprises a new family of drugs which seek to identify 'rogue' cancer cells, strip away their camouflaged coating and by enhancing the body's own Immune System,  encourage it to fight and destroy such cells. 

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham is to the forefront of the implementation of this very recently discovered family of cancer treatments.  

Whilst the drugs are provided by the NHS, the QEHB CHARITY funds the Clinical Trials and the all important Research into their uses which will  be of benefit to cancer patients as a whole. 

Already some positive and very exciting results have been announced.  

Being very much involved in these Clinical Trials/Research, and spending considerable time at the Queen Elizabeth, up to three times a week,  we have come to realise what goes on behind the scenes.

Additional to funding these Clinical Trials and Research , the QEHB CHARITY (www.hospitalcharity.org/about-qehb-charity) exists to support the patients of University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and their families.  It provides extra equipment and facilities  at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham and the Old Queen Elizabeth and Selly Oak Hospitals and funds all important research.  

The CHARITY also fronted the successful fundraising campaign to bring the CyberKnife machine to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham 

ALL OF WHICH ARE OVER AND ABOVE NHS CORE SERVICES. 

The charity also supports the UK’s MILITARY PATIENTS who are treated at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, based at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.

We have been overwhelmed by the kindness and support Lynn has received and continues to receive and the ground-breaking work the QEHB CHARITY is funding.  

I wanted to do something that will go some way to repaying them and also assist the research that will benefit cancer patients across the board.

What then am I doing to raise funds for the Charity to continue with its essential work.  This 75 year old is not just 'tin shaking', as important as that is.  I entered VELO BIRMINGHAM, a 100 mile Cycling Sportive that was to take place on Sunday 21st June 2020.  Unfortunately the Coronavirus Pandemic has intervened and the event has been cancelled.

As an alternative, the QEHB Charity has launched their CYCLING MARATHON CHALLENGE.  This entails cycling the Marathon distance (26.2 Miles) multiplied by the Velo Birmingham distance (100 Miles) making a total of 2620 Miles (4200 Kilometres) to be competed by 30th September 2020. This 75 year old has accepted this Challenge and I am asking you to support me and in doing so help me to reach my Fundraising Target which will assist the QEHB CHARITY in continuing their valuable work.

My CYCLING MARATHON CHALLENGE page can be found at www.velo2020.everydayhero.com/uk/rogers-velo-marathon-challenge

Any Donation, of any amount, will be gratefully received and put to the very best use.

I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT NOT ONE PENNY OF YOUR DONATION WILL BE USED TO REPLACE CORE NHS FUNDING.

The more people that know about THE QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL BIRMINGHAM CHARITY, the greater their impact, so please help to spread the word by passing my links to my Pages to all your friends, family and colleagues and anyone else to whom you feel it would be of interest.

May I thank you all in advance for your support and generosity. It means so much to me, THE QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL BIRMINGHAM CHARITY and CANCER PATIENTS across the board. 

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