Cancer survivour commits to fundraising through cycling

When cyclist Karl Dawson was diagnosed with testicular cancer last year, his passion for pedalling had to be put on hold.

Next month, though, Mr Dawson will be back in the saddle at Tour de Broads North, having beaten cancer and with a determination to raise money for charity.

He said: 'My goal during treatment was to get over it and take part in the Tour of Cambridgeshire that I'd already signed up to do. Ultimately, I was still too fatigued by it all to do it though.

'A year on, I decided that I would fundraise through cycling. I saw that Macmillan Cancer Support were one of the charities of the Tour de Broads North and South events, so they were the events I signed up for – the 100-mile routes because I've never cycled that far in one go.'

Mr Dawson has now cycled over 180 miles for Macmillan, completing Tour de Broads South and returning to take on the Tour of Cambridgeshire earlier this year. He has raised £700 for people living with cancer.

As Tour de Broads North approaches on August 20, he hopes to raise more awareness to help others.

'Apart from the monetary side of things, it's about reminding people to check themselves or have a GP do it, and demonstrating an appreciation for Macmillan's work.'

Throughout his treatment the 47-year-old from Ipswich was looked after in the Woolverstone Macmillan Centre in Ipswich.

Macmillan Cancer Support was recently announced as an official charity partner of the Tour de Broads Cycle Sportive series for the third year running.

Now in its fifth year, the Tour takes place around the Norfolk Broads, with the start and finish line this year at Hoveton Hall.

The cycling sportive offers cyclists of all abilities the chance to ride from 25 miles up to 100 miles, before crossing the finish line and celebrating with their friends and family at the mini festival in the event village.

Helen Hancock, challenge events manager at Macmillan said: 'We are very excited to be partnered with Tour de Broads again this year, and hope many cyclists will join our team to help raise money for people living with cancer.'

Macmillan hopes to raise over £25,000 from Tour de Broads to help people living with cancer.

With just 6 weeks to go before the event it's not too late to sign up. You can register for a place in the Tour de Broads at www.tourdebroads.com, or if you'd like to ride for free and be a Macmillan ambassador, contact macmillan.org.uk/tourdebroadsnorth.