I was diagnosed with Myeloma in March of 2011. Myeloma is cancer of the bone marrow. It is fairly rare affecting about 4000 people a year in the UK. It is terminal in that no cure as yet been found. Life expectancy is somewhat reduced (you do not want to know the statistics!), but longer periods of remission are being obtained through new treatments discovered through research.  At the moment I am benefiting from these studies (and hope to do so for a long time to come) in the treatment I receive at Manchester Royal Infirmary. Following an unrelated donor stem cell transplant in August 2012 I am now in remission. Due to the illness and the effects of the long treatment I have had to give up my role as a secondary school Headteacher. I am now concentrating on enjoying life and raising money for cancer charities.

Myeloma UK is a charity that supports patients and families with myeloma as well as funding research into new treatments. It works alongside other charities such as Cancer Research, the Anthony Nolan and Macmillan. They rely on donations to fund their work. I and others with the condition have been helped in some way by this charity. It is one of the lesser known charities and as such needs as much help as it can to carry out its valuable work.

 My latest fundraising challenge will be to complete the MyelomaUk London to Paris bike ride 2016. This takes place from 5^th to 9^th May. From being one of the peloton before Myeloma, due to decreased energy levels, I am now the bloke at the back! My challenge is to be back in the pack by the time of the ride. Together with the other 150 riders we will cover 500 km in 4 days finishing with a police escort on the Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe.  There will be back up support to ensure that nothing mechanical, or physical, hinders our progress.

I am seeking your support in helping me to raise as much as possible for MyelomaUK. If you could see you way to giving a small (or large!) donation other Myeloma sufferers still undergoing treatment will be more than grateful.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.