Clinicians complete 140-mile bike ride for charity

1 hour ago

Steve SaulNorth West

News image — The clinicians went to eight football clubs as part of the challenge

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust A large group of people with cycling helmets smile as they stand in front of a football pitch. They are standing in a long row, almost all of them wearing black shorts and with an assortment of coloured tops. In front of them are rows of orange seats, behind them the green pitch. Beyond that are further rows of orange seating with the word ARMFIELD written in white capital letters across the seats. — The clinicians went to eight football clubs as part of the challenge

A group of clinicians who have cycled 140 miles (225km) across Lancashire and Cumbria are hoping to raise awareness about a programme that helps cancer patients prepare for treatment.

Eighteen staff members from Lancashire Teaching Hospitals took part in the two-day challenge from Barrow AFC to Burnley's Turf Moor.

They visited eight football clubs that provide support for cancer patients through a programme known as pre-habilitation, which helps patients prepare for treatment by improving their fitness, nutrition and mental wellbeing.

Consultant surgeon Jeremy Ward said the clubs provided patients with a social meeting point and fitness classes during a "very stressful period of their lives".

Supplied Two people cycling on bikes down a country lane. Both have black helmets and black shorts, with one wearing a red jacket and the other a black and yellow jacket. To either side are green grass verges, low dry-stone walls and, beyond, rolling fields. The sky is a glowering grey. — The 140-mile (225km) challenge took two days to complete

The service is delivered through hospitals, leisure centres and football club community facilities across Lancashire and South Cumbria.

The challenge also saw the group of clinicians raise about £7,500 for the Rosemere Cancer Foundation, which funds equipment, facilities and projects to support cancer care across Lancashire and South Cumbria.

The ride had been organised to raise awareness of the programme as well as funds, Ward said.

Starting at Barrow AFC, the route took in Morecambe, Fleetwood Town, Blackpool, Preston North End, Blackburn Rovers and Accrington Stanley before finishing at Burnley's Turf Moor.

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust A group of clinicians sitting on two rows of orange football stadium seats, with three of their number standing behind. They have on black or dark shorts or trousers and some are wearing cycling helmets. They're all smiling. Behind them, and to the sides, are the banked rows of further orange stadium seats. — Clinicians hope to raise awareness about pre-habilitation

"Pre-habilitation is crucially important in helping patients along their cancer journey," Ward said.

He said patients who took part often felt fitter and less fatigued, while the opportunity to meet others in similar circumstances provided valuable support.

Offering the service through football clubs and other community venues meant more patients could access help closer to home, he said.

Rosemere was "incredibly important" and the money raised helped "to improve services for patients, whether that's improving facilities or helping provide important equipment", he said.

Supplied The group, all on or by their bikes, are smiling and in a row outside Rosemere, a large building with dark brick walls, white cladding near the flat roof and white supports out front. — The group raised more than £7,500 for Rosemere Cancer Foundation

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.