Andrew Slorance's Cycle 300 Fundraising Page

Thank you for visiting my Cancer Research UK Cycle 300 page. This September, before the end of the month, I will complete 300 miles on my bike* for Cancer Research UK. I will be pedalling harder than ever because I want to raise money for life-saving research and help bring forward the day when all cancers are cured. Every penny makes a huge difference to vital cancer research so please show your support with a donation to my page. MY STORY (late July update at end) July 1 2020: Around this time in 2015 I was recovering from what we thought was a form of gastric flu. That autumn we discovered it was, in fact, a rare and incurable cancer called Mantle Cell Lymphoma, a member of the Non Hodgkins Lymphoma family. By December I was undertaking a gruelling 4 month programme of chemo before a life prolonging stem cell transplant in spring 2016. At the time of diagnosis, the average life expectancy for MCL wasn’t great. Let’s just say I wasn’t totally convinced I’d see my 50th birthday. But science and luck have been on my side. I relapsed last year but have been able to benefit from a fantastic new drug that is controlling my current cancer ahead of my big 5-0 in January. It won’t last forever, though, and I need to face another stem cell transplant, this time the much more ‘risky’ donor or allogeneic transplant. If it goes well, it could prove curative. But if it fails, well... I should have undergone the transplant this year, but COVID-19 has so far put paid to that. We’re now looking to see when it might be rearranged - it could be weeks, or it could be months. Just in case it is sooner, I will attempt to do the 300 miles in July and again in August in case I can’t manage in the official month of September. After 3 months of shielding I finally got out for exercise on 18 June. I’ve bought myself an electric bike. Not as a ‘cheat’ but because it helps to neutralise the many hills around my Edinburgh home. The pills I am taking have a side effect that can cause joint pain. I have also been sleeping on a bed settee since March. Those things combined have left me with excruciatingly painful and uncomfortable knees and shoulders. Without the extra help of an electric bike there’s no way I’d be able to manage the effort needed to tackle the climbs. But I do put a lot of effort in on the flat. Honest! So in between working from home, spending (hopefully non shielded) time with my wife and kids, and walking our dog, I’ll look to do the 300 miles in September and raise as much money as I can for Cancer Research UK. I already owe my extended life to cancer research and new treatments. But the median survival rate for MCL has only increased to 6-7 years, so I could really benefit from more scientific advances. If you can spare a few quid it will inspire me but more importantly help CRUK. Than you for reading. Andrew - July 2020 UPDATE: July 28 2020 My transplant team in Glasgow have been in touch. Looks like Stem Cell Transplant service is starting up again. I'm now pencilled in for the potentially life saving procedure in mid to late October. Also, shielding restructions have been eased and will soon lift completely. So I've used the brief window of eased shielding and the latter part of Scottish school hols for a short caravan break - without bikes! - with the family. Does mean i won't compete my planned 300 for July (sorry...). But should be clear now to do the required 300 in Sept (and also a 300 in Aug, just in case!!) Cheers Andrew