Perfect Motion | Pedal it Pink

This Wednesday (14 Jan), Breast Cancer Campaign will launch its first ever Pedal it Pink cycle event, exclusively for women, in Liverpool. Pedal it Pink is a new cycle event with a variety of routes to choose from so all abilities are catered for. There is a 26.2 mile (marathon course) for the more confident cyclist, a 13.1 mile (half marathon course) for intermediates and a 5km family lap for beginners and those who wish to involve their partners and family in the event. Taking place in Liverpool’s Sefton Park on 19th April, there is plenty of time for you to train for any of the distances. Entries are now live on the website www.breastcancercampaign.org

The launch of Pedal it Pink is taking place in the Met Quarter from 9am-6pm. Shoppers will be able to find out more information about Pedal it Pink and the charity and those who sign up on the day will be entered into a prize draw to win a pink Raleigh bike and helmet, worth over £220.

Shoppers will also get the chance to try out their cycling skills on a revolutionary new static bike called the Wattbike. The Wattbike tests your fitness over 27 different variables, enabling you to see how you compare to the likes of Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton, who is a keen supporter of Pedal it Pink.

The money raised from taking part in Pedal it Pink will help Breast Cancer Campaign to fund innovative, world-class research throughout the UK to understand how breast cancer develops, leading to improved diagnosis, treatment, prevention and cure.

Jayne Smith, from West Derby in Liverpool, is also going to be at the launch, she knows all too well how vital the work that Breast Cancer Campaign does. In 2006 Jayne discovered she had a lump in her breast after being urged to check them by the charity’s ‘Tickled Pink’ campaign. “I couldn’t believe it,” she said, “never in a million years did I expect to find anything during my self-examination but I couldn’t ignore the hard swelling in my breast.”

Terrified, Jayne rushed straight to the doctor but initially he said it was a cyst. But weeks later, the lump was still there and Jayne began to wonder if the doctor had been right. In October 2007 after yet another check up and a mammogram, Jayne discovered she did in fact have breast cancer.

“Although I wasn’t too shocked, it left me absolutely devastated. For eight months I knew something wasn’t right and now I didn’t know if I was going to live or leave my two children without a mother.” Without wasting any more time, Jayne went straight in for treatment and had a lumpectomy followed by a course of radiotherapy.

“After my treatment the doctors told me they’d caught all of the cancer and I was in the clear. It was the best news I’d ever heard and I was so relieved I’d been one of the lucky ones. Breast cancer affects so many people and it’s heartbreaking to read about those who don’t survive their diagnosis.”

It is now over a year since Jayne was diagnosed and treated and to show her gratitude to Breast Cancer Campaign for helping her to find the lump in the first place she is taking part in the 5k family lap at Pedal it Pink.

“I’m taking part in Pedal it Pink because I want to show Campaign how thankful I am for all the research they fund. Without it, I may not have survived my experience of breast cancer so this is my way of repaying them for everything they have done for me. Not only will it be a great way to get fit, but I’m sure it will be a really fun day out in support of a very worthwhile cause.”