A group of 20 amateur cyclists cycled 300 miles from the Worcestershire Breast Unit to Brest in France over the first May bank holiday weekend, raising over £39,000 for the Worcestershire Breast Unit Haven charity.
A group of 20 amateur cyclists cycled 300 miles from the Worcestershire Breast Unit to Brest in France over the first May bank holiday weekend, raising over £39,000 for the Worcestershire Breast Unit Haven charity.
This is the Breast Unit and charity's 10th anniversary year and the challenge set out to highlight its support of women and men throughout Worcestershire .
Mr Steven Thrush, Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon/Trust Cancer Clinical Lead, conceived and cycled the challenge.
Speaking from Brest Mr Thrush said: "This challenge was so hard but having finished it - so rewarding. We did this to raise money to support breast cancer patients in Worcestershire and commemorate 10 years since the Breast Unit opened. Our challenge was hard but lasted four days. Their challenge is lifelong. The charity is there to help individuals by providing support outside what is provided by the NHS. I cannot thank those who did this challenge enough. Or the charity team or LetsgoVelo who looked after us. The individuals all paid for their own costs which means everything raised goes to the charity."
Julie Cross cycled as part of the group. "As a local, former breast cancer patient the ongoing support from the WBUH has been invaluable. Twelve years ago during chemotherapy treatment, I never thought I would be able to complete such a challenge. It was a really tough 4 days - rain, hills, more hills ! Several times we all had to dig deep to keep on pedalling. The camaraderie and determination of the riders has been amazing."
The cyclists set off on Friday 1st May at 8am from the Worcestershire Breast Unit which is on site at Worcestershire Royal Hospital, cheered off by the clinical and charity teams as well as friends and family. Professional bike touring company Go Velo planned the route and led the cyclists through Worcestershire and beyond down through the South of England, across the Channel and finally reaching Brest in France on Monday 4th May.
This is the 10th anniversary since the Unit and the charity opened. In that time over 51,000 referrals to Worcestershire county-wide breast health services have been made and almost 7,000 of those have resulted in a diagnosis of breast cancer. The work of the WBUH charity is incredibly important to emotionally and physically support all breast cancer patients in Worcestershire, and of course requires funds in order to support these patients.
"As a local, former breast cancer patient the ongoing support from the WBUH has been invaluable. Twelve years ago during chemotherapy treatment, I never thought I would be able to complete such a challenge.'
