Man takes on Europe cycle challenge after beating cancer
A NEWBURY man is setting off on a cross-Europe cycle ride to raise money for charity after his miraculous recovery from an extremely aggressive form of cancer.
Andrew Gilboy, of Garden Close Lane, in Newbury, will set off from London on the Bank Holiday weekend starting August 29, and finishing up in Rome after three weeks to raise money for charity Delete Blood Cancer.
In November 2012, Andrew, 51, was diagnosed with “double hit” defuse large B cell lymphoma and was told that without treatment he had three weeks at most left to live.
After intensive chemotherapy at Royal Berkshire Hospital until the following May, he was transferred to Oxford for stem cell harvest.
Despite still having long-term effects from the chemotherapy, Andrew has since steadily recovered and he made a personal vow to cycle across Europe in spite of the odds.
And with the start of the 1,350-mile ride just over a week away, he admits to feeling a mixture of excitement and nerves.
He said: “It’s a long way and it’s going to be hard so I’m starting to feel a little bit nervous about it.
“It will be a great adventure, though, and a fantastic experience with a lot of friends joining me for sections of the route along the way.
“In a sense I see this as a bit of a metaphor for what I’ve gone through.
“It’s been tough, but with the help and support of family and friends I’ve got through it and hopefully they’ll help me get to Rome too.”
The father-of-three says the challenge will be even more difficult after suffering heart and lung damage as a result of the intensive chemotherapy.
However, when doctors told him that his scan was “one of the worst they’d ever seen” he and his wife, Louisa, feared he would not live to even attempt such gruelling challenge.
“The fact that I’m here is testament to the medicine, doctors and nurses in the NHS.
“However, there is a severe lack of donors out there and so we desperately want to try and raise awareness of Delete Blood Cancer so that people come forward, register as donors and save a life.”
While undergoing treatment, Andrew was able to use an exercise bike in the isolation ward and feels that his fitness, as well as his determination to take part in a monumental cycle challenge once he was better, was vital to his survival and recovery.
“Cycling saved my life,” he said.
“I didn’t realise it in older people, the fitter you are the better your body can deal with the treatment and better chance you have of recovering.
“I’m not the cyclist I was but I’m nearly there.”
To achieve his target he will need to average more than 75 miles a day to total the 1,350 mile trip, while climbing the equivalent height of three Mount Everests.
Andrew’s JustGiving page can be accessed via www.justgiving.com/AndrewGilboy or for more information on Delete Blood Cancer visit www.deletebloodcancer.org.uk/