Tags
100000 Genome Project, Bradley Wiggins, Cancer Research, Challenge, Cycling, Exercise, Fund raising, Genetics, Geneva to Milan, Healthy lifestyle, Hope Against Cancer, Inspiration, Livio's Italian Restaurant, Shepshed, Trans-Alpine
After a busy week of riding around local hills in our stunningly beautiful Charnwood Forest, this week is a recovery week leading up to the Prudential Ride London-Surrey 100 miles. As I have mentioned previously I did this ride last year but it had to be truncated to 84 miles due to torrential rain and high winds brought on by Hurricane Bertha. So back to ride up Leith Hill and Box Hill as I have unfinished business to see to!
Today I had a call from Leicester Mercury who wanted to know a bit more about my challenge so had a lovely chat with their reporter Samantha. Apparently there will be a piece in the Monday edition of the Mercury.
Today was also a visit to the offices of Hope Against Cancer – based at The Lodge on Knighton Road. These premises have been loaned to Hope by Leicester University in recognition of the valuable work they do. It was great to meet up with Nigel Rose, Chief Executive and Barbara North Admin and Grants Manager.
It was a useful occasion to brush up on what Hope are doing and to try out the new Hope Velo Club outfit:
Hope Velo Club outfit.
This kit had its first outing this evening and I am very impressed. It is by far the most comfortable cycling kit I have worn to date. 5 stars!
Val has been asked by Hope to design a Christmas card and she showed her ideas to Nigel and Barbara and has been given the go ahead. So something to look forward to. I love this card, but then I am biased. For those who don’t know, Val is an illustrator and an art tutor and has produced Christmas cards for years, amongst lot of other work. Some of her work is on her website www.valsingh.com – if you do visit this site don’t forget to click on the door on the tree trunk to enter the gallery!
Today Val also had her last hospital appointment as far as her reconstructive surgery is concerned – so we are now officially at the end of her long long journey and she can now return the loyalty card back to the hospital!
The weeks are rolling by so quick and it is just over 6 weeks to the big ride and I am beginning to feel confident. I have lost another pound and it feels so good – I am now the same weight as when I first came to Shepshed as a young man in 1979! I am sure by the time of the challenge I would be the weight I want to be.
Many people have asked me about Hope Against Cancer and our involvement. Some people say they already support Cancer Research UK. Well we do as well. Over the years we have raised thousands of pounds for UK’s main cancer charity and will continue to do so. The interesting thing is that Cancer Research UK itself partly funds Hope Against Cancer and some of its research trials. As a result of this national support Leicester is now one of the Centres of Excellence for cancer research in the UK
The most important message I want to convey to people is that before Hope Against Cancer was set up Leicester and Leicestershire had some of the highest rates of cancer and mortality from cancer in the whole country. Over the years by setting up a local research centre cancer care has improved in terms of health education and prevention, rates of detection, treatment and survival rates – so much so that we are now one of the best in the country.
How has this happened? The most important issue here is attracting top scientists, doctors and support staff to your area. By funding research trials Hope has managed to do this. It can some times be difficult to associate research with improved care as when we talk about research we are often thinking of discoveries and breakthroughs. Now these happen as well but when you have the facilities for such research it certainly brings top brains to your hospital. One of the biggest spinoffs has been the department of Clinical Genetics and its involvement with the 100000 Genome Project in association with the University of Cambridge.
With cancer rising it is only a matter of time we will come in contact with it either directly or in our nearest and dearest. Whereas in the past there was very little hope, now thanks to Hope Against Cancer the outcome is much more positive – so much so that we have great expertise on our doorstep that is attracting patients from other parts of East Midlands and eastern England. Its only today I learned that patients are referred to our hospitals from as far afield as Lincoln and Boston (Lincolnshire).
In spite of this it pains me that this small but very effective charity is very little known outside of Leicester and south and eastern parts of the county. I hope that our involvement will bring its message to Shepshed, Loughborough and more widely in the North and Northwest parts. Once my challenge is over I would like to continue with this blog to promote this message of Hope including promoting good health, diet and exercise.
My sponsorship is almost touching £5000 and here are the various links you can use to sponsor me:
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/Hopesitalianjob
http://www.justgiving.com/guru-singh2
text GURU67 with £amount (from £1 to £10) to 70070
Sponsorship forms are at Charnwood Pharmacy, Bloomin’ Marvellous, Dilip’s Multi store, The Black swan, The Crown, Ryatt’s Optometrist, Hall Croft Opticians, Janine Soars hairdresser at “Sheardesire” in Hall Croft, Rosebery Medical Centre, Rosebery Pharmacy, Forest Edge and Outwoods Surgeries, Bridge Street Medical Centre and Pedal Power in Loughborough. Don’t forget Livio of Livio’s Italian Restaurant is also collecting a voluntary £1 donation from his diners and promising to match it.
Further information about Hope Against Cancer: http://www.hfcr.org
PS – Alfie has had a big spruce up – thanks to Pedal Power – it has new brake pads, new rear cassette to help with the Alpine ascents, new Continental Formula tyres and a general clean. If ever you have seen a happy bike it was Alfie who today was flying up the hills – setting up many personal bests over some segments. Good boy!
Singh of the Mountains 
You sound like everything is coming together regarding your conditioning, your weight and your fund raising for a cause you are so passionate about. This (in my opinion) is what life is all about. Purpose helps motivate each of us. Sometimes we lose focus and we drift for awhile. Sometimes it’s caused by the stress that accompanies life. Regardless, two choices always remain. We can choose to be happy and productive or choose to give up and exist until our calling. I am excited to see the choice you made. Your mission will carry on long after your ride in 6 weeks. I continue to wish you and your family all the joy and happiness you seek in life.
It is now my turn to ask a favor (as long as you agree with its content.) I have started a petition requesting honest and unbiased reporting for healthcare options available to the public. I would appreciate your signature and your willingness to “SHARE” the petition via any social media avenues you are affiliated with. My motive is based on my continuing commitment to my profession and the public it serves. The benefits of unbiased reporting provides the consumer a better opportunity to make better informed decisions. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.
The link to my petition can be found at:
https://www.change.org/p/cnn-anderson-cooper-erin-burnett-i-am-respectfully-requesting-a-forum-for-debate-consisting-of-physicians-and-research-scientists-with-credible-research-peer-reviewed-professional-publications-representing-both-sides-of-childhood-preventative-medical?
Thank you for taking the time to evaluate the merits of this proposal.
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Done! I agree with you about the degree of media bias out there and I can imagine it must be horrendous in the USA. Here in the UK it is a big problem with the tabloid papers but “broadsheets” generally behave. The Guardian http://www.theguardian.com – is probably the world’s most reliable news outlet for accuracy. Did you know that it is now the most online read news source in the USA and the second most popular in the world? The best thing that has come out of the UK along with the BBC.
In addition we have a big safeguard in the UK – NICE or National Institute of Clinical Excellence which is independent of big pharma and government and gives a very balanced view of modern day medical issues and ethics. It doesn’t always get it right but is quite receptive to criticism.
I believe one big problem in the US is the emergence of all kinds of pressure groups that have opinions which are often not based on fact or peer review.
Thanks once again for supporting me and Val through this exciting journey in our lives.
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Thank you for the information about The online newspaper. This is information I can add to my reading list. Having an independent organization acting to safeguard against possible breaches in ethics is phenomenal. I give England credit for creating this check and balance against powerful government and business.
I agree with you. Lobbying efforts are able to significantly influence policies (both ethical and unethical) and decisions by politicians. Their ability to contribute large sums of money to powerful leaders creates an enormous imbalance when seeking truth in policy outcomes. I hope my words resonate in the ears of the rich and the poor so that everyone benefits.
Now, get back on that bike and climb some hills! Best always.
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Hi Guru… Great news re Val, please give her my regards.
Funny to read about Vals career… Before I was a web designer I was a greetings card illustrator for nearly 20 years producing card designs for Gordon Frasier, hallmark Athena and Simon Elvin amongst many others.
I had a look a Vals work and loved her style and colours, very nice work indeed!
Best of cycling speed for the London. Your new cassette should serve well in the Alps 🙂
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I think she will be delighted to exchange ideas with you. Your experience in this field would be invaluable.
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