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Terry O’Connor(Image: GoFundMe)<\/p>\n“If you are unfortunate enough to get cancer, you’re fortunate if you get treated at the Christie”Terry O’Connor(Image: GoFundMe)<\/p>\n
A 62-year-old man will take on a gruelling 56-mile bike ride this autumn to raise money for the Christie Hospital as a thank-you for their care during his battle with cancer.<\/p>\n
Terry O’Connor has lived in Brookbottom, a hamlet on the edge of the Peak District, for more than 20 years. He first visited the Christie Hospital in 2022 to have a ‘minor skin lesion’ removed.<\/p>\n
“I was only there for a trivial treatment,” he told the Manchester Evening News. “But I saw some really inspiring stories, and tough battles.”<\/p>\n
“But I didn’t realise then that in a few months I would be back there myself as a patient.”<\/p>\n
Terry was diagnosed with leukaemia in March 2023 and would go on to spend a 14-week stint living at the Christie as he underwent chemo and a stem cell transfusion.<\/p>\n
“As a hospital, they are pretty remarkable,” he said. “You are just surrounded by unbelievable people.<\/p>\n
“It was a really difficult time but it was also very touching, the way you are looked after.”<\/p>\n
Terry has now completed his treatment, and two years on, his leukaemia has not returned, but he still has to go in for regular tests at the Christie.<\/p>\n
But it was picking up the autobiography of Sir Chris Hoy – who revealed his terminal cancer diagnosis in February 2024 – that got him thinking about how he could ‘give back’ to the hospital.<\/p>\n
“Rumour started to spread that Chris Hoy would do his own fundraiser,” said Terry. “So I thought if he did, I would put my hat in the ring.”<\/p>\n
Sure enough, in February this year the six-time gold medallist announced the launch of Tour de Four, a charity bike event in Glasgow aiming to “shine a spotlight on what a Stage 4 cancer diagnosis can look like” and “demonstrate that it is possible to live well and lead a happy life” alongside the diagnosis.<\/p>\n
There are four different routes of varying difficulty – and Terry, a seasoned mountain biker, has chosen the hardest, a 56-mile, 3300ft elevation ride on the roads north of Glasgow.<\/p>\n
“I’m a keen cyclist, but I haven’t done road racing before,” he said. “So I think it will be a really different challenge. But I’m confident that I can do it.”<\/p>\n
“Chris Hoy is such an inspiring man, with everything he has had thrown at him,” he continued. “I don’t know where I am in my own journey – maybe one day I can get my life back.<\/p>\n
“But I wanted to give back to the Christie and I thought this was a good way to do so. I just wanted to do anything I could to help.”<\/p>\n
“It’s such an inspiring place when you see what people are tackling. It’s an extraordinary place with extraordinary people.<\/p>\n
“If you are unfortunate enough to get cancer, you’re fortunate if you get treated there.”<\/p>\n