Man with cancer cycles 4,000 miles and raises £27k

A man with advanced prostate cancer has finished a cycle around the coast of Great Britain for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. 

Simon Aylett, 59, from Sussex, finished an epic 4000-mile cycle around the coast of Great Britain on 30 October, raising £27k for the charity.  Setting off from his home in Rye in May, he completed the challenge on an e-bike with a homemade miniature caravan attached, with 72 days spent in the saddle.

The journey took him around the perimeter of Great Britain, ending back in Rye with friends and family celebrating his return in a pub.

[Get your daily dose of positive news from Smiley Movement]

After being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2012, Simon was told in 2017 that the cancer had spread and he only had 12 months of good health left. Determined to make the most of this time, he completed his first e-bike challenge in the summer of 2018 – a 2,000 mile cycle from Rye to Syracuse in Sicily – raising thousands for charity.

By 2019, Simon had become unwell and his treatment – which had included surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormonal therapies – was resistant to treatment. However, in 2020 he was accepted onto a phase 1 clinical trial at The Royal Marsden’s Oak Drug Development Unit, which is funded by The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. The drug is currently working well for Simon, with his PSA score dramatically reduced.

Earlier this year, Simon decided it was time to get back on his e-bike and, this time, raise money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

The funds raised by Simon will support the Oak Drug Development Unit, which provides a pathway for newly discovered drugs to be tested in Phase 1 clinical trials. The unit treats close to 300 patients a year on Phase I trials, making it one of the largest facilities of its kind in the world.

[Get inspired by fundraising challenges from people around the world]

“The trip, which came with lots of highs and lows, in a strange way has echoed my experience of cancer," said Simon. "For example, both have thrown many curveballs my way. Like setbacks after my diagnosis, including my cancer spreading and treatments becoming resistant, I’ve had to contend with steep hills, daily punctures and the bike breaking down multiple times.

“However, besides the sheer staggering beauty of Great Britain’s countryside and coast, it’s people that have got me through this trip, in much the same way as my loved ones have supported me since my diagnosis."

Antonia Dalmahoy, managing director of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Simon for his fundraising efforts, which are a testament to his generosity and willpower, and it’s been inspirational to follow his journey around the coast of Great Britain."