A BRIDGWATER dad who has survived two heart attacks and had two titanium jaws fitted is showing how cycle power got him through.
Cycling addict Andy Gale, 52, is urging people to sign up for Cancer Research UK’s Cycle 300 challenge to help the charity continue its life-saving mission.
Participants are asked to raise money to help beat cancer by getting sponsored to cycle 300 miles during September.
The furniture agent has had two titanium braces fitted to his face since his shock diagnosis in 2014.
He had a massive part of his jaw removed due to a rare and aggressive cancer, but says he is living the dream now.
He added: “My experience means I understand the importance of Cancer Research UK’s work all too clearly.
"I was absolutely devastated when I was diagnosed. But I had incredible support from my family and it helped to keep me going.
“I feel I’ve cheated death a number of times but I’m living the dream now.
“Everything I have today feels like a bonus and I want to show there’s life after cancer.
“I think Cycle 300 is a great fundraising challenge because you can choose how to do it so that it fits in with your lifestyle and commitments.”
People choose how, when and where they complete the challenge - whether it’s 10 miles every day, 75 miles every weekend or all in one go.
Hitting the target needn’t be an uphill struggle when cycling to work, the shops or taking on a spin class all count towards the distance.
For Andy, his cancer diagnosis has brought home how precious life is.
Problems began when he was originally diagnosed with an infected wisdom tooth at Christmas 2013.
When the socket didn’t heal after its removal, Andy saw a specialist who suggested a biopsy.
When he was invited back to talk about the results, he knew something was seriously wrong.
Andy said: “When there are six people in the room, you know you’re in trouble.
"I told them not to sugar coat it and they said that cancer had filled the space where the tooth had been removed.”
Andy was diagnosed with stage 4 squamous cell skin cancer in his jaw and the following month underwent a 12-hour operation.
A large section of his jaw was removed, and he underwent plastic surgery and had a metal titanium track inserted in his face.
Recovery hasn’t been easy, but it hasn’t stopped him getting on his bike and taking part in competitions here and abroad.
He added: “My whole focus was to get back racing. I was at a reasonable level. I’d done the Tuareg Rally across the Sahara a couple of times and took part in the British Rally Championship and won it. But it had all been about the journey rather than the winning."
Having suffered from the trauma of both the diagnosis and the surgery Andy has enjoyed getting on his motocross bike and mountain bike and challenging himself physically and mentally.
He has also been fitted with a new jaw with bone taken from his hip as his previous titanium jaw had broken and needed to be replaced.
Now fit and well, Andy is keen to show how the pedal power of people could help to forward cancer research and save the lives of more people like him.
“There’s no better motivation than knowing you’re helping to save lives, so I hope that people in Somerset will jump in the saddle and help to bring hope to families like mine," said Andy.
In the South West more than 35,000 people are diagnosed with cancer every year.
Thanks to the generosity of its supporters, Cancer Research UK’s work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer has been at the heart of the progress that has seen survival in the UK double in the last 40 years.
Alison Birkett, Cancer Research UK regional spokesperson, said: “We are very grateful to Andy for his support and hope it will start a chain-reaction, sparking the interest of cyclists of all ages and abilities. One ein two of us will get cancer in our lifetime, but all of us can play a part to help beat it.
“This past year proves the value of investing in science and medical research, and what can be achieved together. Just like science is our route out of the pandemic, science is our route to beating cancer.”
Join the challenge and receive a free fundraising pack at cruk.org/cycle300
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