Cricket Club Issue 49 | Page 37

Outwood Patrick McIntosh’s Life Cycle: A Global Ride to Fight Cancer Triple Cancer Survivor to Cycle the World After conquering Mount Kilimanjaro and reaching the South Pole, Surrey businessman reveals his next challenge Patrick McIntosh, 62, is a grandfather, chartered financial adviser and rugby supporter who has survived three different types of cancer and now dedicates himself to promoting healthy living, inspiring others and fundraising for good causes. In 2019, Patrick will cycle from the UK to the Rugby World Cup in Japan to prove what’s possible after surviving bowel, prostate and skin cancer. With the support of the England Rugby Football Union, Patrick will set off from Twickenham Stadium, London, on Saturday May 4, and will ride through Holland, Germany, Denmark and Sweden, before attempting to cross all of Russia by pedal power in just 90 days. He will be following the route of the original Trans-Siberian railway from St Petersburg to Vladivostok. But his epic journey will not stop there. After reaching Japan and cheering on England in the Rugby World Cup, Patrick intends to continue his global cycle in 2020 with a ride across North America and Iceland on his way back to the UK, visiting all four UK home nations before returning home to Surrey. Patrick is no ordinary fund-raiser. Previously after beating bowel, prostate and skin cancer in 2015 he trekked to the South Pole, supported by Conrad Dickinson, the polar explorer and friend of Prince Harry. He also climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in between operations to remove half his bowel and his prostate gland and before starting ongoing treatment for skin cancer. Now he is taking on a journey of more than 7,500 miles in aid of the World Cancer Research Fund (www.wcrf-uk.org) and St Catherine’s Hospice, Surrey (www.stch.org.uk). Patrick only found out he had bowel cancer after he went to give blood in 2012 and doctors noticed his iron levels were dangerously low. He was subsequently told he also had prostate and skin cancer, which doctors thought were unconnected. However, Patrick has since discovered he has genetic conditions (Lynch Syndrome and Muire Torre syndrome) that may explain the triple diagnosis. He says: “Doctors said it was terrible luck to get three cancers diagnosed at the same time, but actually I was incredibly lucky to catch them early and be able to have surgery. Now I just want to highlight the importance of eating well, doing exercise, staying positive and getting any symptoms checked because the big C is no longer a death sentence for everyone.” His message is summarised by the four points of a “Cancer Compass” which helped him cope with and overcome the disease: 1. 2. 3. 4. Exercise - Help Yourself Feel Better Eat Well - Think About Diet Get Checked - Early Diagnosis is Crucial Stay Positive - Fight for the Future Each of these points are personally important to Patrick and his chosen charities. He has also been endorsed by prominent supporters including Dame Judi Dench and Dr Michael Mosley, the broadcaster and author. Patrick’s exploits have previously been covered by the BBC, ITV and Sky News as well as national newspapers, and he was nominated for a Pride of Britain award in the year of his Antarctic Trek. Since 2015 he has been a popular motivational speaker and continues to manage KMG Independent, his financial planning business based in Smallfield, Surrey, and registered charity KMG Foundation, which donates to his chosen causes. Patrick’s fundraising page is: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/PatrickMcIntoshLifeCycle Follow Patrick’s progress on Twitter: www.twitter.com/kmgfoundation …on Facebook: www.facebook.com/kmgfoundation …and Instagram: www.instagram.com/kmgfoundation For more information or to arrange an interview with Patrick, please contact David Rose on [email protected] 07917348086 Pictures and Video of Patrick at Twickenham Stadium, courtesy of England Rugby, are available on request. The #LifeCycle from #TwickenhamToTokyo – Key Dates and Stats: • May 3 – 4th 2019: Patrick will depart from St Catherine’s Hospice in Crawley, Surrey and rides to the World Cancer Research Fund in London before setting off on the Saturday 4th May from the home of English rugby, Twickenham Stadium, with an 18-mile group ride to London Bridge. • He aims to arrive in Tokyo, Japan, for the opening of the RWC2019 Russia vs Japan on the 20th September 2019. • That makes the Life Cycle a journey of 139 days (4 months 16 days) • …A distance of at least 7,580 miles (12,200km) • …Climbing a total elevation of more than 52,455 metres • …Averaging at least 84km per day • Due to visa restrictions, Patrick must ride his bike across largest country in the world, Russia, in just 90 days. • In total he will visit the following seven countries: Holland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Russia and Japan. • In 2020 he aims to cycle a route across the Canada, Iceland, Republic of Ireland, Wales, Scotland England. - the USA, and #LifeCycle www.sportip.biz 37