A GROUP of hockey playing friends nicknamed Chicks With Sticks are on their bikes to raise £6,000 for a new cancer centre at the Royal United Hospital, Bath.

The women from Warminster are raising the money by cycling the width of the UK from St David’s in Pembrokeshire to Lowestoft in East Anglia.

Sally Douthwaite, Sarah Shanks, Nic Ilic, Ali Brown, Kirsty Stewart and Gussie Kerr-Bonner set off on Thursday and hope to finish in eight days.

Mrs Douthwaite, 52, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2016 and treated at RUH but sadly it has returned.

She is still taking part in the ride and said: “Having been closely monitored by my consultant, it meant that my cancer relapse was picked up early and although I’m now undergoing further treatment I know I’m in safe hands.”

Sarah Shanks broke her shoulder playing hockey but was so determined to still take part she hired a specially adapted bike. All the women are working mums who are aged upward of 40.

Hello. We are six good friends who have run around a hockey pitch together for many years. In April 2019 we are stepping off the hockey pitch and picking up our bicycles to raise money for the new Cancer Centre, at Bath’s Royal United Hospital (RUH), part of the Forever Friends Appeal.

We want to raise £6000 by challenging ourselves on two wheels, riding the width of the UK, from St David’s in Pembrokeshire to Lowestoft in East Anglia. We are aiming to complete this 420 mile cycle over the course of eight days, setting off on 4th April 2019. We are the Chicks with Sticks - Sally, Sarah, Nic, Ali, Kirsty & Gussie.

As a group of working mothers on the “other” side of 40, we all have our fair share of day-to-day challenges. However, none is as big as the cancer battle one of our six is currently facing. Diagnosed with ovarian cancer in November 2016, Sally As a group of working mothers on the “other” side of 40, we all have our fair share of day-to-day challenges. However, none is as big as the cancer battle one of our six is currently facing. Diagnosed with ovarian cancer in November 2016, Sally was treated at the RUH and has nothing but praise for the treatment, care and support she received. Sally successfully fought this disease with the most amazing courage and a great sense of humour. Despite this, it has returned and she once again turns to the RUH to help with the tough road ahead.

One in three people are affected by cancer. Every day, lives are changed forever by this disease, which indiscriminately alters the futures of people everywhere. The RUH are creating what they believe will be the best cancer centre for a district general hospital in the UK. The aim The aim

is to build a new and pioneering Cancer Centre which balances clinical

expertise with the provision of a nurturing and therapeutic environment – that is centred on patient care and experience, reducing stress and anxiety, whilst promoting health and thereby embracing a ‘holistic’ approach for patients and their families. It will be a Cancer Centre where the four strands of Clinical Excellence, a Therapeutic Environment, a Survivorship model of care and proactive Research are welded together to powerful effect, creating a highly beneficial healing environment for patients and their families.

And why have we chosen cycling? None of us are cyclists, with one of us having barely ridden a bike for 25 years. Well, we wanted a challenge, something that we Well, we wanted a challenge, something that we would have to work really hard at. This West to East cycle challenge was something we felt would be tough but one we could achieve. We were inspired by the Four Mums in a Boat, four amazing women who showed that with determination, planning and team work, you really can achieve anything.

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