Brothers ride out to fight bowel disease

TWO Skelmersdale brothers who were diagnosed with lifechanging bowel diseases just weeks apart will cycle 127 miles from Leeds to Liverpool for charity.

Dad-of-two Stephen Rochford, 34, has suffered with Crohn’s disease since 2008 and had to have his colon removed last August.

After opening up to his family about his symptoms, Stephen prompted his brother John to seek medical attention and eventually receive a bowel cancer diagnosis.

Stephen said: “Being a man you don’t really talk about the symptoms and then my brother got diagnosed at quite a late stage.

“From a male point of view - women do talk more. Men suck it up and crack on like the idiots we are.”

He only sought medical attention after his wife Claire, 34, called his boss in tears: “She rang and cried to my boss and said: ‘Just make him go to hospital’.

“I truly believe that phone call saved our lives.”

Now Stephen and John are planning to cycle 127 miles along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal in one day to raise money for Crohn’s Colitis UK.

After having his colon removed, Stephen has been left with a stoma and ostomy bag for the rest of his life.

Stephen said: “I have suffered with Crohn’s disease since 2008. I had a bit of a rough ride with it. I’m not looking for sympathy but it was a bit of a rough ride.

“I feel like I was quite a drain on the health system and not able to do a thing to give back.”

Since his surgery, Stephen has been recovering and decided to plan this charity bike ride to give something back.

He said: “I don’t want anybody else to go through what I have been through.

“It gives me a little bit of closure.”

He has two daughters, Eleanor, six, and Molly, four, and he said his struggle with Crohn’s disease has been tough for the family.

The 127-mile bike ride will take place on October 21 and the brothers have set a fundraising target of £1,000.

If you would like to donate to Stephen and John’s fundraisng page, visit www. gofundme.com/crohnscanalchallenge