21st June 2024

iPRO Hydrate supplies PLANETS Cancer Charity Event!

PLANETS Cancer Charity has passed the £30k mark ahead of its 100-mile cycle challenge which is set to take place on Saturday, 22 June.

The ‘Dawn to Dusk’ event, which will see 54 participants including doctors, nurses, patients and supporters take part, has already secured £31,952 of its £50k target as of today (13 June).

Starting in Winchester and ending in East Huntspill, Somerset, the day will end with celebrations at a unique farm with lodges, glamping pods and yurts.

Members of the PLANETS medical team including consultant interventional radiologist and co-founder of the charity Dr Brian Stedman and consultant hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgeon Arjun Takhar, who has operated on a number of the patients involved, will be taking part.

They will be joined by a number of clinical colleagues from University Hospital Southampton, while celebrity chef and PLANETS patron Lesley Waters, whose husband and son are also set to complete the challenge, will be waiting to greet participants at the finish line.

PLANETS helps patients with pancreatic, liver, colorectal, abdominal (oesophageal and gastric) and neuroendocrine cancer by funding patient support groups and other initiatives, innovative treatments and research.

Since 2011 the charity has raised more than £2 million and delivered achievements including a network of patient support groups across the south coast and the UK’s first mobile electron beam radiotherapy machine based at University Hospital Southampton.

Among the patients set to take part are 56-year-old Andy Croce from Poole, who had 15 lesions removed from his liver and part of his colon by Mr Takhar in 2022, and Jane Clouting, 67, from the New Forest, who underwent bowel cancer surgery in 2020 just under two years after retiring.

Andy said: “I am participating in the PLANETS charity cycle to help raise much-needed funds for all the amazing things they do and to support other patients.

“I also love a challenge and it is a good reason to get fitter and take up a new hobby. I’ve met so many lovely people both in the medical profession and involved with the charity who have a positive outlook and are inspirational.”

Jane said: “The PLANETS team are truly inspirational. They have raised a huge amount of money for the benefit of the people they support and our part of the UK would be a poorer place without them.”

In addition to the funds raised so far, the charity has received “immense” support from businesses and organisations

across the region, in particular Bayview Developments and Rawlins Davy Reeves: Solicitors, both based in Poole, who have sponsored the cyclists’ jerseys.

Medical device company Boston Scientific has also backed the event and iPRO Hydrate has supplied drinks for the ride, while numerous local businesses across Hampshire and Dorset have donated money to offer fuel stations to the cyclists, provide support vans for the day and a goodie bag for when they have completed the 100 miles.

Jo Green, director of operations and marketing for PLANETS and a neuroendocrine cancer patient who will also be cycling in the event, said: “We are really excited our epic Dawn to Dusk challenge is nearly upon us and we cannot thank everyone who has donated or sponsored the event enough, we have been overwhelmed at the immense support shown so far.

“It has been hard work but wonderful to see our clinicians, patients and supporters spending time together at our training events and having such fun while also improving their fitness and helping us to raise both awareness and funds.

“We still have a long way to go to reach our £50k target, however, so we want people to keep spreading the word, to follow our updates on social media and to think about supporting us on the day if they can.”

To find out more or to donate visit www.justgiving.com/campaign/dawn2dusk.