Stage IV patient cycling across US will reach end (NYC) tomorrow
 

Hello everyone,

As you may remember, a few weeks ago I mentioned that there was a stage IV breast cancer patient from Leeds in the North of England (near where I live) who was cycling across the US to raise money for charity. She's done similar, but somewhat smaller, challenges before and has raised over a million pounds through earlier athletic endeavours, even though she only took up sport after developing secondaries. I believe that she was one of the participants in the herceptin trial for stage IV patients, so her story is particularly pertinent for the board. Her dream is to raise two million pounds (over three million dollars). Some of the money raised will go to the Damon Runyon Foundation in NY to pay for cancer research.

Anyway, her husband is doing a blog and she seems to be finding it very difficult, so any support that anyone could provide, would be appreciated, including well wishes. Right now she seems to be headed from Nevada towards Cedar City, Utah, so if anyone could provide practical support (they seem to even have had problems getting access to the internet at times), I am sure they wold appreciate it. Messages of support can be left at the bottom of the thread and I would imagine that they can also be reached through Radio Leeds (leeds@bbc.co.uk).

Here's the blog
http://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/content/a..._feature.shtml

Take care,

Christine

Thanks for the update
 

Thanks Christine -- upon sending my support comment by way of the blog, this line came up for me:

Script requires a referal url

???

A.A.

Perhaps these will work better
 

The e-mail to contact her and her team: info at janesappeal.com

Her weblog: http://janesappeal.com/?m=2006&w=28, with space for comments.

I read Jane's story and she certainly is amazing. Goes to show that you can have a life with cancer. Good luck to her.

Thanks Christine,

Sent an e mail over to Jane.....what a wonderful story!

Warmly,
jean

Hi everyone
 

Well, things seem to be turning around, but the riders now seem to need only prayers and words of encouragement on their website, hence the reason I slightly changed the title on this thread (I thought this was better than starting up a completely new thread). Having been a long-distance runner in the distant past, I know that a little encouragement really makes a big difference.

It must be really tough to be in that kind of heat. Here in Yorshire, where Jane is from, a very hot day is 80 degrees and we have shade, ice cream and beaches to help us cope with that extreme http://www.her2support.org/vbulletin...cons/icon7.gif heat! People don't put their sweaters away for the summer because they might just be needed!

Some people have trouble believing that Jane has incurable cancer all over the place given that she has done so many incredible things since she was given six months to live nearly six years ago. They are skeptical even though her oncologist has said on TV how ill she is. Other people who don't know anything about cancer treatment get confused and think that somehow the cancer treatments must be making Jane strong (if only). I think Lance Armstrong has also had this problelm.

For me, Jane is living proof that cancer research has done alot for some patients with secondaries, but also that alot more needs doing. It is pretty clear from the interviews that this is her way of fighting cancer, if not for herself, for other people.

I've been reading this blog that was posted by Christine. I can't believe that a woman can have so much strength, be so sick, and do so much for our cause. I am posting it again so that it can reach the top of this site. Those of you who missed it, may this story quite amazing.
Barbara H.

Looks like she's making it
 

She expects to arrive in Battery Park at 9:45 tomorrow after an extremely difficult challenge.

The US fundraising has been going slowly, but perhaps it will go better once she is finished.