Solihull mum saddles up for 500 mile cycle challenge after cancer scare

A Solihull mum and World Champion Duathlete is riding roughshod over cancer by taking on an epic cycle challenge for Stand Up To Cancer.

Single mum Debbie Bradley (44) is cycling over 500 miles in five days from Glasgow to London, calling at Cancer Research UK’s key research centres en route.

Debbie, who won the title of World Sprint Duathlon Champion in 2014, is determined to complete the mammoth ride despite having only just recovered from a serious bike crash four weeks ago.

As a Learning and Development Manager for Cancer Research UK, Debbie knows only too well how important research is into the disease. But the urgency of the cause really hit home in 2015 when Debbie herself had a serious cancer scare.

She is being joined on her epic bike ride by charity chief Simon Ledsham, director of Communities for Cancer Research UK. The pair set off from Glasgow’s Beatson Institute on Sunday 7th October, reached Birmingham on Wednesday before continuing to Cambridge then London. Other supporters will join the duo at different stages of their tour.

They aim to raise £10,000 for Stand Up To Cancer, which takes breakthroughs in the lab and transform them into treatments and cures for cancer patients.

Debbie, who lives in Hampton-in-Arden with her eight-year-old daughter Lillie, was a latecomer to cycling and only realised her potential at the age of 40. She was amazed to qualify as an age group athlete for Team GB in the World Duathlon Championships in 2014 and even more astonished to find herself winning the title of World Sprint Duathlon Champion.

Now she combines her job at Cancer Research UK with competing at the highest amateur level in duathlon and is sponsored by women’s cycling brand ‘Liv’.

But at the peak of her physical fitness Debbie was knocked for six when in 2015 she discovered an olive-sized lump in her armpit while showering.

“I showed my mum and she discovered that I had another one in my other armpit that I hadn’t even notice,” said Debbie.

“I went straight to the GP and was referred for further investigations but by the time I saw the consultant I had developed further lumps in my groin and was having night sweats. Basically, I was showing symptoms of lymphoma.”

Debbie had biopsies and surgery to remove her lymph nodes but managed to put a brave face on the situation until the day she got her results.

“I was sitting in the consultant’s room and it just suddenly hit me that my life might be about to change utterly, and what that would mean for my daughter Lillie. I realised how fragile life is and how it can all be snatched away in a moment,” said Debbie.

“When the doctor said the lumps weren’t cancerous I was so relieved I cried. I’ve never forgotten that moment, and when I go about my work at Cancer Research UK I always remember that I could so easily have been a cancer patient myself.”

Debbie hopes her cycle challenge will inspire other people to show cancer it’s payback time and get on their bike for Stand Up To Cancer. Cyclists can celebrate their own ride by taking a selfie and texting CYLE5, CYCLE10 or CYCLE20 to 70404.

To sponsor Debbie visit her fundraising page at https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/stand-up-to-cancer-cycle-challenge-1

Stand Up to Cancer is a joint fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4 which raises money to speed up life-saving research and is supported by a host of celebrities including Davina McCall, Edith Bowman, Alan Carr, Joel Dommett and Kirsty Allsopp. It culminates with a night of live TV on Channel 4, on Friday, October 26.

People can also show support by signing up now for a free fundraising pack at standuptocancer.org.uk. As well as getting sponsored to wear orange for the day, it includes a host of creative ideas to help beat cancer sooner.

A fun range of clothing and accessories for men, women and children is also available now online, and in Cancer Research UK shops.

Jane Redman, Cancer Research UK spokesperson for the West Midlands, said: “We wish Debbie and Simon every success in their mad cycling challenge and hope it inspires others to join the cause.

“Every day our scientists and researchers are working tirelessly to beat the disease. But research in the lab alone won’t get us there. We need to raise some serious cancer-crushing cash to speed up breakthroughs from the petri dish into better treatments for patients.

“Raising vital funds for life-saving research is a great chance to get payback on cancer. Everyone knows loved ones who’ve been affected. Whether you donate, get sponsored to wear orange from head to toe or organise your own bake sale, there are lots of ways to get involved.”

Stand Up To Cancer has raised £38 million since it was launched in the UK in 2012. The funding is used for clinical trials and projects which accelerate the development of new cancer treatments and tests, to help patients and ultimately save more lives.

Cancer Research UK spent over £8 million last year in Birmingham on some of the UK’s best scientific and clinical research.

For more information or/and to get involved: standuptocancer.org.uk