I was diagnosed with Bowel Cancer just two days after my 60th birthday.  In the same week I had an invitation to join the bowel cancer screening programme.  I had an operation and 12 cycles of chemotherapy and four years later I am still here.

My brother Damon (pictured left) was diagnosed the week before his birthday.  The cancer was stage 4 and he died 6 months later in October last year.

We all miss Damon, his family and friends and the keen astronomers and microscopists he helped in the Facebook groups.

I support Bowel Cancer UK.  They are doing amazing work in funding research, and raising awareness.  Most importantly, they have been successful in making screening available from the age of 50.  This programme, had it been available sooner would have probably saved Damon's life.

Bowel Cancer UK is the UK’s leading bowel cancer charity. They fund targeted research, provide expert information and support to patients and their families, educate the public and professionals about the disease and campaign for early diagnosis and access to best treatment and care.  They are here to stop people dying of bowel cancer.

With this cycle ride I hope to raise much needed funds for the charity, and to raise awareness.

Currently there are 248,000 people in the UK that have been diagnosed with bowel cancer.  1 in 15 men and 1 in 18 women will develop bowel cancer in their lifetime. 

Every year 16,000 people die from bowel cancer.

Help me make a difference, for Damon's sake.  Check for symptoms, take up the screening opportunities and donate to Bowel Cancer UK to help fund research.