I live in Derby
I am 71 years old
I still work a 3 day week
I intend to clock up a 1000 miles distance or there about over a period on my bike
for Cancer Research finishing with a final run to Skegness later in the summer
Why! then read on
About 14 years ago my wife Kathleen had breast cancer and got over that all right, but unfortunately she died
earlier this year with an ovarian cancer that came upon her like a thief in the night and took her life on 21st
February 2006. She had been a little below par for sometime at first it seemed to start with a stubborn heavy
cold that then left her with what appeared to be like catarrh symptoms that would just not clear up. She
visited the doctors on and off for something to clear the catarrh, nothing seemed to work and clear it. There
were other slight changes that had happened at different stages she complained of backache for awhile, her
likes and dislikes in food were changing . Some types of salad such as cucumber would upset her stomach,
and there was a loss in energy levels. At some point she began to have stomach discomfort as well, this is
when our GP started to give her pills to treat what he assumed to be stomach ulcers. Needless to say these
also did not make any improvement in her condition. The GP then told us that because Kathleen had had
cancer of the breast several years earlier he thought she should have some chest scans and arranged to have
them carried out. These tests however did not show anything and on the same day as the tests they told us
both that they were OK and gave her the all clear. Well this news seemed to cheer us both up at the time
and gave great relief. Unfortunately her discomfort gradually worsened and a little further down the line
back to the Doctor we went, Kathleen had now completed the course of tablets for stomach ulcers so he told
Kathleen she could safely increase the dosage. I then told the Doctor that as she was having difficulty
eating or drinking and that anything she took would be brought back. (At this point Kathleen's condition
was deteriorating quite quickly) the Doctor then said he would arrange to have an endoscopy carried out,
that this test would find out the problem but meanwhile to double up on the prescribed tablets, even
though I had told him anything she had tried to swallow would be brought back. How we managed to
survive those days leading up to the Hospital appointment I don't know for Kathleen could not eat or
drink without bringing it back. On the day of the Hospital appointment Kathleen had to be taken in a
wheelchair to the clinic ward she was so weak. Needless to say Kathleen was admitted on that very same
day to investigate her illness. This was at the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary there were many tests carried
out and eventually one of the tests had shown a shadow on her left ovary. Because this now came under the
care of the Derby City Hospital Kathleen was transferred there, where after many more tests and
approximately 5 weeks later Kathleen lost her battle with what was a very aggressive type of cancer. Those
were the worst 5 weeks for myself and our two sons to be there with Kathleen not being able to do anything
to halt her sad deterioration that was taking place day by day. We were there with Kathleen every day in the
latter weeks for they put her in a side ward by herself and very kindly put another bed in there so that one
of us could stay there at night, we alternated my sons and myself, so for almost every second of the day one
of us was there with her to bring any of her needs to the nurses attention. My own personal belief is that
our GP has failed Kathleen by not reading and heeding those earlier warning signs, he has missed the
chance to initiate the appropriate actions for tests that would have identified her illness sooner,
perhaps then, there may have been more time to undergo surgery that could have extended her life. When
the hospital Surgeon had told the family that he thought this to be a cancer my oldest son then used the
internet where it lists many of the early warning symptoms about this illness and he probably now knows
more on the subject than our GP. I honestly believe that if GP's were not in such an hurry with their 10
minute visiting times and paid more attention during their patients visits, were armed with the updated
knowledge and latest developments in the detection of Cancers then it could I am sure save some lives that
are otherwise lost through ignorance because those symptoms have been detected too late. Sadly this was
the case for my late wife Kathleen, an opportunity missed, surely the doctors should be aware, have to
be aware and be on the lookout for any subtle changes that occur and be ready to act accordingly.
Apparently we in Britain have the worst detection rate
in Europe.
Please click on the link below for supportive information regarding this statement
After the sad loss of my lovely wife Kathleen I was overwhelmed with the grief and feeling of sorrow, my
mind was doing overtime trying to find the reasons why this could have happened to her and seemingly go
unnoticed. Well I know none of us can ever hope to find the answer to that question, but those thoughts will
be forever in my mind .
So I am now channeling my energy for a task that I can do for Cancer Research in helping the charity.
Luckily though I was 71 on Jan 4th 2007 I feel that my general health is still good enough for me to
consider this ride for charity and hopefully with the grace of God my present good health will continue so
that I can complete this cycle ride for Cancer Research. My hopes are that the money that will be raised
and added to other charity workers can hasten the diagnosis and subsequent cure in the not too far off
future, so that all other would be sufferers can benefit by any breakthrough achieved in new technology for
detection and cure.
The only really important thing in preventing this from happening is the time
needed for research and the chronic shortage of money getting to their funds. If
I had the power to administer the use of the funding for the National Lottery
money, I would definitely donate very large sums of money every week for a
reasonable period of time that would really swell the Cancer Research funds to
kick-start an onslaught in the aid to rid us of the scourge of cancer. What could
possibly be more important than something that would benefit everyone, it's our
money so why can't we have a say as to where some of our Lottery money is
steered, after all without us the National Lottery would not have those millions of
pounds. Everyone of us and our families would receive immense benefit from any
break through made by Cancer Research.
So in my very humble way I am hoping for an overwhelming response for this essential cause. I had hoped
to do a single ride earlier last year 2006, but I have wisely been testing my cycling capacity just to make sure
that I would be able to achieve the distance that I had in mind before I went public. I want to push myself for
the cause but I have to be realistic. My original intention was a ride from Derby to Skegness of 94 miles
approx. But unfortunately the daylight hours have now closed in and with the weather getting much colder,
this type of trip is not really ideal. But I have now proved that I would be capable of a trip of this distance
by cycling from Mickleover in Derby to Buxton and back, being 81.5 miles as shown on my cycle computer,
on this run I had a short stop at Buxton before the return trip. This I think would be a harder ride than the
Skegness trip for there is lots of hard work required between Bakewell and Buxton but for the moment my
cycling is reduced to shorter trips just to keep in touch as and when the weather allows. I will start in
earnest sometime in the new year when the weather conditions improve. What I have been considering is
cycling, weather permitting a series of shorter runs say from Mickleover to Ashbourne and back 23.5 miles,
or Mickleover to Matlock and back 40 miles, this I do non stop. I intend to give updates on my mileage as I
go along, my furthest distance non stop to date is to Bakewell and back about 57 miles. I hope to build up a
overall mileage in the region of close to a thousand miles and then by finishing it all off with a final ride to
Skegness, this ride will only be one way I won't be doing the trip back. Hopefully I shall either stay there
the night or get one of my two sons to run me back by car. It’s a pity I have missed out for 2006 having
now proved my fitness levels.
My purpose for having a go in producing this site is to bring my fundraising
attempt to as many people as I can in good time and thereby hoping for a good
response for sponsorship and this essential cause.
Just as a point of interest I have previously been doing my general cycling on a mountain bike, my Mercian
cycle bit the dust long ago, I have still got that frame purchased way back in 1951 or 1952. The rest of the
cycle has over the years been plundered by one of my nephews so I have now recently bought a modern road
bike for this more demanding work. Having invested in a Scott cycle that is simply amazing with an alloy
frame and carbon fibre front forks, its also very light and a dream to ride. I have fitted one of the Radio
computer systems to monitor my progress, well, my oldest son David has so that I can log my overall
distance and record my shorter runs.
Here is the e-mail address of Myles Godfrey my Local Fundraiser e-mail: myles.godfrey@cancer.org.uk
my e-mail: leslie.walker700@ntlworld.com
For information for sponsorship follow this link
http://www.justgiving.com/LesWalker
If you would like to hear some music whilst you browse my site
Click on the Hyperlinks shown below
Happy listening courtesy of my son David
Here is a photo of my eldest Son David who has for his own interest and amusement recorded the above songs on his home computer, you may have seen him performing round and about the Pubs & Clubs in Derby and the outlying areas over the past years. My late Wife Kathleen and myself have enjoyed many a night out listening to him play in the different bands he has played with.
Well that's all I can think of for the moment but I hope to get this site up and running early in the year 2007 so that anyone wishing to sponsor me has a chance to support this cause in good time hopefully perhaps get some early sponsorship coming in during my pre build up rides and leading to my final one to Skegness.
Regards Les Walker
For information for sponsorship follow this link
http://www.justgiving.com/LesWalker