The real heroes in our midst

Now, very occasionally I will post something that is not related to IT, but life in general.

As you may or may not have noticed, I am doing a charity bike ride in under two weeks, a total of 95 MILES in one day!!! I have been training hard, but am still bricking it!

This is to raise money for vital research into two very underfunded cancer types - liver and pancreatic cancer.

I am trying to smash my target of £1,000 and am well on the way - but still need some help.

I'm hoping that the channel will rise to the challenge and help me! I know loads of you already do great charity work and we cover as many of these events as we can, but it doesn't stop me getting my own begging bowl out every now and again!

The generosity I have seen so far from several industry people has bowled me over - so thank you to all of them. You know who you are - I won't embarrass you!

The money I'm raising goes directly to the medical team at Leicester General Hospital who carry out this vital research, and they have already done some very pioneering treatments, but unlike the London hospitals, don't really get a chance to shout about it because they are not followed or reported on by the national press as they should be.

This research goes towards treatment that extends to everyone in the UK, not just Leicestershire. The amount of referrals they get from around the country is high. And not a penny of the money raised goes on admin.

I spent yesterday (Sunday) with some of these amazing surgeons and nurses fundraising in Leicester City centre - they all gave up a precious day off to help raise money and awareness of their own unit, standing for hours with collection tins and talking to the general public.

We raised nearly £600 which was amazing. And all of them are involved in the charity bike ride, either as participants or support crew.

These people are the real heroes, not the countless pointless, often talentless ‘celebrities' who are mainly concerned with lining their own pockets and scoring a photo opp. (Yes there are a few exceptions).

These doctors and nurses spend many unpaid hours of their free time helping to save lives, working above and beyond the call of duty, and put any of us that moan about our 9-5 jobs to shame. They literally are saving lives and making life-changing decisions on a daily basis. I cannot thank them enough.

The fact they have to fundraise for their own unit because it doesn't get any grants, is ludicrous enough and I won't get started on that now, but the things I hear about these people and what they do on top of their actual jobs to help cancer sufferers, really is awe-inspiring. And I'm sure they are not the only NHS team in the UK that do this.

It is a shame that the ‘powers that be' don't recognise these stars when it comes to handing out national awards or grants a little more.

So please, if you can spare anything to help me hit my target - check out my fundraising page by clicking here. Thank you!

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• Research
• Charity