TWO cycling enthusiasts are taking to the road to raise money for a friend’s vital cancer treatment.
Tori Rushton and Phillipa Capel from Cookhill, are riding from Alcester to Paris and back to help Alcester mum Gabrielle Starkey access cutting-edge treatment only available in Germany.
They are currently looking for local sponsorship to help them cover the cost of accommodation and cycle shorts, windjackets and water bottles and any sponsors will have their logos added to their kit.
On Saturday (August 20), the friends will be waved off from Alcester High Street for the gruelling eight day, 1,000km round trip. They expect to be back for a reception at the Turks Head pub the following Saturday (August 27) for music, food and celebrations. Supporters can follow their progress online with GPS.
“We are looking for help with funding this life-saving trip,” said Tori. “Gabrielle is a dear friend, so we decided to get on our bikes and do what we could. It’s very daunting, but we’re training hard – it’ll be an amazing, exhausting adventure!”
They are also being joined on the trip by their friend Ollie Elliott, from London.
Single mum Gabrielle, aged 46, has battled breast cancer since 2008 and in 2014, it was classed as incurable (Stage 4) when it spread to her liver and spine. However she then discovered a German clinic with experience treating Stage 4 cancers, with some remissions lasting more than 15 years.
Gabrielle started the dendritic cell vaccine therapy in February this year, alongside a low-dose chemotherapy, which has so far had positive results. But at £4,000 per treatment it is very expensive and not available on the NHS, so she and her friends have been busy fundraising, bringing in almost half of the £40,000 target.
Gabrielle said: “I’ve been overwhelmed by the efforts of my friends and family in raising money for me – it’s really an incredible feeling, to be so supported, and to be able to get this treatment.”
To help boost the fund call Tori on 07862 733642 or donate at JustGiving – http://bit.ly/2aL1t9F .
To learn more about Gabrielle’s story, read her blog at http://bit.ly/2anV6X0 .
