The story behind the UCARE Kilimanjaro Challenge
(Adapted from a Radio Interview with Phil Mercer of Radio Oxford and Jonathan Acott, Andrew Ward and Dr Andrew Protheroe 5th July 2008)
Q: Where did the idea come from to do this challenge event?
Jonathan: I've had cancer twice now and both times I have been treated by Andy Protheroe who is one of the UCARE founding trustees. In 2004, I was diagnosed with testicular cancer which was treated but then 3 years later I relapsed with a tumour in my chest. After fairly major surgery, I am now in remission again.
Basically I wanted to raise some money to give something back and to prove that you can carry on doing things after you've been ill with cancer. I enjoy doing slightly extreme activities and so I came up with the idea of the UCARE Kilimanjaro Challenge.
Q: Why are you taking part?
Andrew: About 3 years ago I had a rare case of testicular cancer. Complications resulted in loosing my right leg below the knee. People say it's a bit crazy for me to want to climb Kilimanjaro. But I feel healthy now both mentally and physically. People were good to me in my dark days and I would like to give something back.
There's a couple of reasons why I wanted to join in the UCARE Challenge. I want to raise money for the charity but I also want to achieve something personally. I feel that just because I've lost my leg I'm no different from anyone else and so this is the challenge for me!
Q: Why support UCARE?
Dr Protheroe: UCARE is necessary to help raise awareness of cancers such as prostate, testicular, kidney and bladder and to help fund world-class research in order to make advancements and improvement in care. There are approximately 55,000 cases of urological cancer diagnosed each year in the UK. So it's a huge number of cases of cancer and some of these cancers are embarrassing and quite difficult to talk about - particularly the ones that affect men. The more we can do to raise the profile and awareness of these cancers the better.
It's fantastic that Jonathan and Andrew are doing the UCARE Kilimanjaro Challenge - not just to raise money for cancer research but to raise awareness of urological cancers.
Other members of the UCARE team
Gemma Crane
I'm Gemma Crane, a uro-oncology specialist nurse. When patients are diagnosed with bladder, prostate, testicular or kidney cancer they are assigned to me and I provide support and information to the patient and their family.
My role is to smooth the cancer pathway and co-ordinate care from diagnosis through to treatment from surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy and through to discharge and palliative care. I work closely with doctors and other health professionals to encourage and help patients make decisions about the treatment they want.
I've also created an interactive web-based support group for men with testicular cancer. Research show that young men, (the most vulnerable age group is 16 - 34) prefer to express their questions and anxieties through the internet.
With your support I am looking to raise money for UCARE which will help cancer sufferers both today and in the future
Michael Heal
Q: Why is Michael taking part? “I have just celebrated my 60th birthday but am determined that age will not be a barrier to successfully reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro. I have close friends and business colleagues who are currently receiving treatment for urological cancers and I want to raise money for UCARE because I'm confident that the ground-breaking research currently being funded by UCARE will bring hope to cancer sufferers and their families on a global scale.”
“If everyone who reads this is prepared to forego just one bottle of wine in the next three months and, instead, donate that money to sponsoring me on the UCARE Kilimanjaro Challenge, we can raise £12,000!”
Jambo, Jambo Kilimanjaro
Watch this 3 minute video clip to find out about the challenge that faced the team.
Get involved
If you would like to sponsor Jonathan, Andrew, Michael and the UCARE Challenge Team, please visit their fundraising page.
