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Jeanette first came to The Christie in 2021 when she was referred to the hospital after a diagnosis of cancer in her right tonsil and the roof of her mouth. She finished her treatment after 2 months but just a year later, Jeanette was diagnosed with a completely unrelated second tumour in her left tonsil.
And sadly, the second time round, Jeanette’s cancer wasn’t curable due to the size and location of the tumour. She was offered palliative care, but Jeanette asked to be referred for a clinical trial at The Christie.
After 8 months on the clinical trial, Jeanette’s tumour was reduced to less than half its size by December 2023. Jeanette said she hasn’t had any side effects and being on the clinical trial meant she’s been able to live life to the full.
To say thanks for her treatment, Jeanette took on The Christie Charity’s Night of Neon 5k walk around Salford Quays in February 2024. She then wanted to try something a bit more challenging so Jeanette set her sights on The Christie Manchester to Blackpool bike ride on Sunday 14 July 2024.
The Manchester to Blackpool bike ride is a 60-mile route from Salford Quays to the iconic Glitterball on Blackpool’s South Promenade. One of the biggest fundraising cycle events in the UK, Manchester to Blackpool is for anyone from experienced cyclists or those who are wobbly on 2 wheels.
Jeanette’s planning to take on the Manchester to Blackpool bike ride with Sarfraz Durrani, a research practitioner in Jeanette’s head and neck research team. Sarfraz decided to sign up for the ride after chatting with Jeanette about it during her treatment, and Jeanette is hoping that they’ll be able to do part of the ride together.
To train for the Manchester to Blackpool ride, Jeanette has been spending a lot of time on her indoor exercise bike. She’s also joined a couple of local cycling clubs to get some outdoor cycling experience.
“I haven’t seen the route [for the Manchester to Blackpool ride] yet – I’m told by friends who have done the ride in the past that it’s quite a flat route. I am really not looking forward to too many hills, particularly towards the end of the ride – that will be challenging!
