From Merseyside to Taiwan – young cyclists to conquer mountains for charity

In six months, two young women from Merseyside will join a team of cyclists on a momentous trek across Taiwan in Clatterbridge Cancer Research’s first international fundraising event.

Ashley O’Malley from Widnes and her best friend Stephanie Lewin from Speke, both 23, are among 30 cyclists heading to Taiwan to begin a gruelling 292 mile ride from one end of the mountainous island to the other. They will ride through the famous Taroko Gorge and Kenting National Park. It is hoped that the whole team will raise £100,000 to aid their scientists and clinical trials nurses in their fight against cancer.

Ashley, who will shortly be starting a midwifery course, says: “I lost both my grandma and an uncle to cancer within four months of each other and Stephanie and I both wanted to do something to support cancer research. “When we heard about the Cycle Taiwan ride we jumped at the chance, even though I can’t remember the last time I rode a bike!” She added, “I’ve done the Race for Life before but never anything as challenging as this. I’m going to have to join a gym. Soon!”

Stephanie, who works for clinical nutrition experts Nutricia, says: “I keep fit through gymnastics and cheerleading and I teach dance twice a week but we will still need to train about four or five times a week. I’ve already bought myself a new bike, though judging from the pain after my first try-out I’ll be needing a comfier saddle!”

Ashley and Stephanie have set up a website (http://www.justgiving.com/steph-ashley-cycle) to raise £6,500, which is just over the sum needed each day to continue the research that Clatterbridge Cancer Research is already funding.

Based at the Liverpool Cancer Research Centre, Clatterbridge Cancer Research is actively involved in a revolution into personalised medicine and cancer treatment. Their scientists use a Gene Reader to read patients’ genetic make-up of their cancer. This enables them to identify the genetic variations which lead to cancer and adopt personalised treatment, instead of the aggressive one-size-fits-all approach to chemotherapy currently on offer in the UK.

The charity relies solely on donations from the public and needs at least £5,500 each day needed to support its team of scientists, clinical trials nurses and their equipment. Money raised direct benefit the people of Merseyside and Cheshire who take part in clinical trials, such as the Cougar Clinical Trial Study – first in the UK – for prostrate cancer and SNDX, a drug for breast cancer.

Please call 0151 343 4300 or visit www.clatterbridge.org to find out more.