George Southgate, 28, is no stranger to a challenge. In June 2022, he raised more than £18,000 to support our research when he, along with three others, cycled from London to Paris in memory of his dad. He’s now preparing to get back on his bike to raise even more.
George’s dad, Mike, was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer in April 2020. He had treatment for almost two years and tackled his cancer head on, maintaining positivity, optimism and humour throughout.
Mike died in January 2022 aged 59, but his selfless attitude towards life and others inspired George to complete an extraordinary fundraising challenge to keep his legacy alive:
“In the final stages of my dad’s illness and after trying a variety of harsh treatments, he wanted to take part in a clinical trial. He knew there was little chance it would improve his own prognosis but instead could help clinicians gain greater understanding into bowel cancer and the specific mutations present during his illness. Unfortunately, he was too ill to participate in it, but his attitude towards furthering research and the belief that this could improve the outlook for many bowel cancer patients is what has driven me to support the ICR.”
.jpg?sfvrsn=901c5a23_1 "George's Dad, Mike, who passed away in 2022 (Credit: George Southgate)")
Image: George's Dad, Mike, passed away in 2022 (Credit: George Southgate)
After the success of the first event in 2022, George will once again be turning the pedals from 4 to 11 July, with the aim of raising more than £100,000 for our pioneering research.
This time, he will be cycling from Berlin to London, through Germany and across the Netherlands, then travelling by ferry to the UK before finishing his journey outside our labs in Chelsea. Passing through rural countryside, small towns and villages, he plans to travel about 100 miles a day.
“We want people to ride together to make a difference”
George has recruited 26 adventurers to join him on his expedition, including many from the insurance industry to honour Mike’s 40-year career in this sector.
George’s cousin Ben, who lost his mother to breast cancer in 2023, will also be taking part in the cycle ride. The family knows only too well the devastation caused by cancer. George’s grandfather died in 2018 after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia and his uncle died aged 47 from osteosarcoma.
“Seeing the impact of their illnesses on each of them and their deaths on my family has been very difficult. But knowing there will be more families in the same situation, directly raising funds for research feels like a positive, tangible step in the face of something so negative. Ultimately this challenge is just my small way of trying to help reduce the number of individuals suffering with cancer and the families who are broken apart by it.”
We urgently need to find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat bowel cancer more effectively – so more families can look forward to the future together. Please make a regular gift today to help us make more discoveries and save more lives.
“Thoughts of my dad will spur me on”
Many of those taking part in George’s ride are not experienced cyclists – just people who are prepared to take on some significant training. His intention is to bring together cyclists and non-cyclists in an exciting but difficult challenge, creating a chance for those who have been affected by cancer in some way to come together and make a positive difference.
.jpg?sfvrsn=47b63adf_1 "George cycled from London to Paris in 2022 (Credit: George Southgate)")
Image: George and three friends cycled from London to Paris in 2022 (Credit: George Southgate)
As he pedals the nearly 700-mile route, there is no doubt that his dad will be at the forefront of George’s mind, inspiring him to keep going and pushing forward to the finish line:
“When my dad was diagnosed with cancer, the outlook was devastating from the start – he was told he had only weeks to live. Nevertheless, through treatment, along with determination and undoubtedly some luck, he went on to live for almost two more years. In hindsight, this alone is testament to the man he was, and his ability to withstand an overwhelmingly difficult situation, all while continuing to remain his positive, warm and loving self, optimistic that he would beat the cancer. Despite knowing he had an incurable diagnosis, his death at just 59 was a major shock, and it is still very difficult to come to terms with.
“Not a day goes by that I don’t think of my dad and how much my mum, my sister and I miss him. So, I will inevitably be thinking about him as I ride. This will no doubt spur me on, as will the thought of the many others who have died or suffered because of cancer. But I’ll also be thinking of those who have successfully won their battle with cancer, knowing that they would have benefitted from previous research and how with each mile that we cycle, we will be raising money to fund future research to benefit many more.”
To support George and our vital research, visit George's fundraising page