Hope-funded Dr Sam is doing our 2,500 Furlongs Cycle Challenge!
Dr Sam Khan, who Hope funded through her PhD, is cycling the 2,500 Furlongs Challenge to raise funds for our Charity. Her incredible gesture will take place between the 14th and 17th of September when Dr Sam and the other participants will cycle from Leicester Racecourse in the biennial Tour de Hope!
The route takes riders on a veritable tour of horse-racing venues. They’ll cycle to Doncaster, York, Hull and finally back to sunny Leicester (where they’ll be greeted with a party!).
Currently, Dr Sam is researching the impact of curcumin, a component of curry ingredient turmeric, as a prevention agent in bowel cancer. This research could be crucial in discovering new ways to prevent cancer.
Dr Sam’s PhD work focused on research into cancer treatment and prevention at our Clinical Trials Facility. Her research earned her an NIHR (National Institute of Health Research) Academic Clinical Lecturer in Medical Oncology - a notoriously difficult placement to get into.
And Dr Sam knows she couldn’t have done it without Hope: “My PhD has been the foundation for my career, and I’d never have managed it without the support and belief of the Hope team. The very least I can do is spread the word about fundraising - and the best way to do that is to get back on my bike!”
Amazingly, this will be the second time Dr Sam has taken part in our fundraising cycle challenge. Back in 2017, she was 60 miles into the journey before disaster struck - she fell from her bike, badly injuring her arm. Unbelievably, Dr Sam made it back onto her bike and soldiered on to complete the race.
This year's training has seen Dr Sam take to the bike 3-4 times every week - an intense regime made a whole lot easier by the brilliant Hope community. We’ve organised regular cycle meets which have turned our bikers into a unit of cyclists, intent on having every single one of them finish!
Our bike enthusiasts are also setting up fundraising events all over the place - such as the shindig taking place at the Cradock Arms in Knighton on Saturday 31st August. You can join in for just £7 - which includes live music and food, with all proceeds going towards the Hope Cycle event.
We’ll also be hosting a Homecoming party on Tuesday 17th September to welcome the cyclists’ home after their 340-mile-long journey. The event will be held at Leicester Racecourse, with live music and food and drink available. Anyone is welcome to attend and you can get your tickets here: https://bit.ly/2NC93b2
Hope Against Cancer supports cutting-edge cancer research in the Leicestershire and Rutland area. To find out more about how you can help, and to sign up for events like the 2500 Furlongs Cycle Challenge, visit https://www.hopeagainstcancer.org.uk/ .
