Stephen Cycles 70 miles for Charity

On Wednesday 2nd April 2025 on his 40th Birthday, Stephen, Valeter at Lloyd Jaguar Land Rover Carlisle, is cycling 70 miles from his home in Carlisle, to the Newcastle Freeman Hospital to raise money for The Newcastle Hospital's Charity, on behalf of the Northern Centre for Cancer Care, at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital.

We caught up with Stephen to hear all about his truly inspirational story.



Hi Stephen, tell us a bit about your story?

Hi, I’m Stephen and here's my story as to why I'm raising money for The Newcastle Hospital's Charity, on behalf of the Northern Centre for Cancer Care, at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital.

On the 25th October 2017, I had come off a nightshift where I worked at Hermes Carlisle Sorting Depot at the time, and I woke up after my daytime sleep, ready for another nightshift, with a huge pain across my back. The pain was horrendous, as though I had been punched, and not knowing anything else to do, I got in my car, and took myself off to A&E, to Carlisle's Cumberland Infirmary.

They took samples from me, which was a kidney and bladder infection. However, a CT scan which was only supposed to be looking for kidney stones, which was the suspected cause of this infection, came back with a 12cm or 4.7-inch black shadow on my lymph node on my left lower back. I was then placed onto the 2-week rule of serious investigation, many appearances later with a PET scan, and a biopsy taken at the Cumberland, which was sent to the Newcastle RVI for analysis, I was diagnosed with, Seminoma Testicular Germ Cell Cancer, which had come from my left testicle, grown a tumour onto my lymph node, and had also grown into my left shoulder.

On the 23rd November, less than 1 month from having a relatively normal life with nothing wrong, I suddenly was to begin a course of intense Chemotherapy, 4 weeks’ worth spread over 2 months of Bleomycin with a 70 - 80% cure rating, at The Newcastle Northern Centre for Cancer Care, at the Freeman Hospital.

There were many bumps along the road (and I'm not talking about the A69). The side effects were horrific after the 2nd week when it really started to kick in. From constant tiredness, hair loss, tinnitus, tingling sensations on toes and fingers, sickness after eating, and, I had lost around 3 stone of weight down to 11, but it was the rough with the smooth.

Having conversations with consultants and doctors during that time, this Cancer had been growing for 4 years before it was found, and was caught just in time before it could have spread and possibly become less treatable. So, here I am, still going for tests now each year, for bloods, heart rate, CT and X-ray scans, and I owe it to that hospital, for had it not been for their treatment, care and attention, I may not be here to see 40.

So, on Wednesday 2nd April 2025 on my 40th Birthday, I am to cycle the 70 mile Route 72 from my home in the Crindledyke Farm estate in Carlisle, to the Freeman, for that most amazing hospital.




If you would like to support Stephen in his Cycle for Charity, please donate to his JustGiving page by clicking the button below.

DONATE HERE