Father and doctor to cycle 450km to Paris to fund a cure

Richard Sadler was diagnosed with myeloma, an incurable blood cancer, in 2021.

On Thursday, September 26, the 61-year-old will set off on the Myeloma UK London to Paris ride with his doctor, Professor Graham Jackson.

The pair will cycle 450km to raise funds for Myeloma UK.

The ride will see the two navigate 'steep ramps and hairpin bends' before reaching the finish line at the Eiffel Tower on Sunday, September 29.

Over the last three years, Mr Sadler's cancer has come back twice, but the father-of-three is determined to rewrite the future for himself and the next generation of patients by funding vital research into life-saving treatments and, ultimately, a cure.

Richard Sadler (centre) with his daughter Catherine Sadler (second from left) and her friends Peter, Monica and Cat, who took part in the Great North Run in aid of Myeloma UK in 2022 (Image: Supplied)

Mr Sadler said: "Training for the bike ride and the whole process of fundraising keeps me going.

"Doing the ride with one of the medics who has helped keep me alive is a really nice twist."

Mr Sadler, a retired maths teacher, was diagnosed with myeloma at the end of 2021, after what he thought was a 'slight ache' in his kidney, turned out to be a sign of incurable blood cancer.

Despite receiving treatment, including a stem cell transplant, his cancer has come back twice over the last three years.

He’s now on a clinical trial, which is thankfully keeping his cancer at bay for now.

Prof Graham Jackson (right) giving a fellow rider a boost at the Myeloma UK London Paris Ride 2022 (Image: Supplied)

Prof Graham Jackson, who recently retired after 40 years at Newcastle Hospitals, said: "I’m delighted to be doing the ride alongside Richard.

"What he is doing is absolutely incredible and it shows that, with the right treatment, people with myeloma can achieve amazing things.

"This is why we’re doing it, so that everyone with myeloma can live better and longer lives."

Richard and Graham have already raised more than £14,000 combined towards a much hoped-for cure.

To support Richard, go to ride.myeloma.org.uk/richard-sadler.

To support Graham, go to ride.myeloma.org.uk/graham-jackson.

For more information about myeloma or to get in touch with Myeloma UK go to myeloma.org.uk.