100-miles in a day cycle

Carla was first diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in April 2018 and following six months of chemotherapy was delighted to receive the all clear with a very slim chance of relapse. Unfortunately, in January 2019 Carla felt unwell and following a nine-day stay in hospital and various tests the family received the devastating news that the disease had returned. In 2019, Carla had two different chemotherapy regimes, one at Southend hospital and the other at University College London Hospital (UCLH), followed by a stem cell transplant. In 2020, her husband (Tom Corbet) and seven friends decided to take on an almighty challenge: a self-funded and organised cycle from London to Amsterdam. However, the pandemic put the ride on hold and with travel still not simple, a ride around Essex in a day totalling 100 miles has been decided upon. Carla is now three years in remission and back to full health, and has decided to join the ride, which will be a huge challenge as a cycling novice. The team - Carla & Tom Corbet, George Chipper and Michael Rummel - will be raising money for three charities; Women on the Move Against Cancer (WOMAC) for which Carla is on the Committee, Lymphoma Research Trust and Willow Foundation. WOMAC organises events and activities to raise money for cancer charities. Over the years, WOMAC has donated over one million pounds to cancer-related projects, searching for more effective treatments or improving the quality of life for cancer sufferers, their families and carers. The organisation donated £5,000 to Southend Hospital where Carla was treated in both 2018 and 2019. The donation was used to install an air conditioning unit in the day room on Elizabeth Lowry ward - a place where patients and their families can relax away from the hustle and bustle of a hospital room or ward. Lymphoma Research Trust, which is based at University College London, funds research into the treatment of lymphoma and makes grants to medical researchers who organise clinical trials. The clinical trials assess whether new treatments work better than existing ones, and test different combinations of treatments to see which are most effective. The information gained from these trials improves knowledge of lymphoma and enables patients to be treated more effectively. Willow Foundation works with seriously ill young adults aged 16 to 40 to fulfil uplifting and unforgettable Special Days. Since 1999, Willow has fulfilled more than 16,500 Special Days for young adults living with life-threatening conditions such as cancer, motor neurone disease, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy and Huntington’s disease. Carla and her family were lucky enough to experience an incredibly Special Day, a weekend at Centre Parcs, which allowed them to spend some real quality time together, something they missed out on while Carla was undergoing treatment. The team is hugely grateful to those who donated when the first challenge was announced, and £3000 has already been split between the three charities. A huge thank you also to HardnutZ, that donated cycling helmets to the team - hardnutz.com. For more information please visit: womac.co.uk lymphoma-research-trust.org.uk willowfoundation.org.uk