71 year old double cancer victim completes leg of Tour de France for charity
A double cancer-sufferer given only months to live has completed a leg of the Tour de France – described by seven-time race winner Lance Armstrong as ‘the toughest climb you can take in France’ – raising hundreds of pounds for the June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund and The Prostate Cancer Charity.
Malcolm Davidson, from Rothwell, Leeds, completed the 136km ‘Cingles du Mont Ventoux’ in eight hours and 40 minutes in scorching 42° heat!
71 year old Malcolm was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2007. During ongoing and routine monitoring he was also found to have mesothelioma in January 2011, and was given months to live. Yet despite his diagnosis, Malcolm completed the gruelling leg of the Tour de France this June.
He is currently working with asbestos related disease experts at law firm Irwin Mitchell, who have issued proceedings in the Royal Court of Justice against his former employers in a battle for justice following his exposure to the deadly dust which caused mesothelioma. The firm is now encouraging people to support Malcolm and the charities to honour his achievement.
Ian Toft, a solicitor in the industrial illness team at Irwin Mitchell who is supporting Malcolm’s claim said, “Malcolm showed incredible determination to somehow complete what is an extremely difficult challenge for even the fittest of riders, let alone someone who has been through so many difficulties.”
Malcolm said, “my motivation throughout the challenge was to think how low and weak did I feel during chemotherapy, compared to today doing this mighty challenge? Chemotherapy was a horrific ordeal, but the oncologist who treated me last year told me that my body dealt with it very well, both mentally and physically, and that was largely due to my cycling. I wanted to do this challenge to prove that the illness has not beaten me and to raise funds to help others suffering from cancer.”
Donations can still be made to Malcolm, simply visit his Just Giving pages: