\n Bob Perry, 70, was diagnosed with Waldenstr\u00f6m macroglobulinemia, a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow, a decade ago and was given only 10 years to live.\n<\/p>\n
\n Thanks to the dedicated support and treatment he is soon to eclipse the 10 year mark next month and feels fitter than ever before.\n<\/p>\n
\n To give back to the community, he is cycling up\u00a0Mont Ventoux three times on Thursday, August 21, totalling\u00a0137 kilometres (85 miles) and a combined climb of 4,400 meters (2.7 miles).\n<\/p>\n
\n (Image: Bob Perry) He said: \u201cIt\u2019s to give people hope.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cHope for the future that you can carry on living with a chronic or terminal illness.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cI will die with this illness, not of it.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n Bob will be joined by Mark Wratten, from Trek Poole, who will also be fundraising for the hospital as he has personally experienced the \u201ccompassionate\u201d care of University Hospitals Dorset.\n<\/p>\n
\n Together, they are hoping to raise \u00a310,000 for UHD NHS Charity, using half of the funds to enhance the \u201cquiet room\u201d in the Jigsaw Building, and the other half to support the cardiology services.\n<\/p>\n
\n Bob praised the hospital for helping him to live a healthy and successful life for the past decade.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cIt got me my life back, so life is good,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201c10 years ago, I was a 60-year-old man feeling like I was a 90-year-old man.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cToday I\u2019m a 70-year-old man, feeling like I\u2019m a 50-year-old man and that is down to the haematology department at both Dorchester and Bournemouth hospital.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n The route Bob is taking is known as \u201cLes Cingl\u00e9s\u201d, translating to \u201cThe Crazies\u201d in English and is one of the more famous climbs in cycling history.\n<\/p>\n
\n In preparation for his challenge, he has been spending time in France, cycling the surrounding hills as he said he cannot \u201creplicate\u201d the climb from Dorset.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cIt\u2019s a crazy challenge but I\u2019m looking forward to it.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cI set myself a challenge and the training is going well.\u201d\n<\/p>\n