Cancer mum signs up for cycle ride
A CHANCE accident while swimming ended up with a cancer diagnosis for a Desford mum who is now hoping to help other women battling the disease.
While on a family holiday last year Caroline Humber was kicked in the chest as she swam with her children.
Returning home she felt something wasn’t quite right and decided to get checked out. A mammogram revealed a large tumour and within a week she was undergoing chemotherapy.
Twelve months on and back at work, ironically as an oncologist, Caroline has signed up for the 100km Women V Cancer Ride the Night challenge which takes place on Saturday May 27 next year.
She is part of a team of women christened Desford Hells Angels, all preparing to take part. Her venture comes hard on the heels of a successful 10 mile cycle ride completed with 10-year-old daughter Frankie to raise money for Breast Cancer Research, with husband Steve tackling a 25-mile route.
Caroline said her diagnosis had been a total shock. “Everything happened very quickly as I went through eight rounds of chemotherapy, followed by a mastectomy and 25 sessions of radiotherapy.
“My friend Staci signed up for Ride the Night because of my illness and now there is a group of women from my village all taking part. It’s given me something to work towards and inspiration for us all to get fit together, especially as some of the group haven’t ridden a bike in years.”
Ride the Night raises funds for three cancer charities, Breast Cancer Care, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust and Ovarian Cancer Action.
Many women who take part in the event, like Car- oline, have received direct help from these charities.
During her illness Breast Cancer Care was able to offer a ‘buddy’ service to the 45-year-old and provided books to help her children understand what she was going through.
As an oncologist Caroline felt she couldn’t attend support groups and with her parents in Canada and two young children to look after she felt incredibly isolated.
She said: “One day when everyone was out of the house I found I couldn’t stop crying so I called Breast Cancer Care. They were fantastic and through their Someone Like Me service they put me in touch with a lady called Sarah. As a GP around the same age, Sarah was going through the same thing as myself and understood how I was feeling.”
Now in its fourth year Ride the Night is organised by Action for Charity and, after an opening event with fireworks and entertainment at Royal Windsor Racecourse, takes participants on a route through London and past famous landmarks such as Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace.
To support Caroline and her team the Desford Hells Angels visit the JustGiving page at www.justgiving. com/carolinehumber