I’m delighted to be Captain of the Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research Team again this year. It’s a great honour to lead our red jerseyed riders to Paris and so much fun to be involved in this fantastic event.
It’s a cause very close to my heart and I’ve been involved with the charity since my recovery from chronic myeloid leukaemia in 2005. I’m thrilled that all the fundraising from our team this year goes to a project which I have championed. The Trials Acceleration Programme (TAP) will link 13 hospitals around the country, giving patients with leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma access to new treatments sooner, drastically improving their chances of survival.
I’m also pleased our team sponsor, Brewin Dolphin are back on board. We have 16 keen riders from Brewin offices across the UK and they’re fully behind the cause again and committed to raising even more than they did last year.
They will be joining a few of my celebrity friends, Football Manager Aidy Boothroyd, Rugby Player Paddy Johns, TV Gardner Diarmuid Gavin and Sky Sports Presenter Jill Douglas are all part of Team LLR. Not to mention John Salako who is aiming to make it to the start line after injury cruelly ruled him out of last year’s event.
Last year the team raised a massive £120,000 and we’re just as committed as our friends from Brewin Dolphin to beating that total this time around. This fundraising makes a huge difference to our patients. Patients like Harvey Bennett who has recovered from being diagnosed with lymphoma in May 2011 to join us in June. Like Nick Gordon, who rides this year after beating cancer twice. Like Harry Boxall who will be training in Jersey after undergoing treatment for Lymphoma. Some pretty impressive efforts which benefit every one of the 30,000 people a year diagnosed with a blood cancer in the UK. Our riders and fundraisers are helping to save the lives of all these patients, young and old, from all over the country. From grandchildren to grandparents, sons to sisters, not to mention the odd ex-footballer. I may not pick up the yellow jersey on The London–Paris 2012 but I’ll be very proud to wear a red one along the way. You can too by joining our team and helping to beat blood cancers.
Geoff Thomas
Team LLR Captain
