05
Aug 2011
*MSF Husband Cycles for Wife’s Life*
Category: Success Stories
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Please take a few minutes to read the story of Charlie and Melanie Jaggard - They met on mysinglefriend and really need your help!
• SHE’S BATTLING A RARE CANCER AND IS PREGNANT WITH TWINS
• HE’S CYCLING 911 MILES TO RAISE FUNDS FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH
• YOU CAN HELP THEM REACH THE £50,000 TARGET
The husband and father of 32 year old cancer sufferer Mel are cycling from John O’Groats to Land’s End to raise funding for research into a rare form of head cancer.
Recently married Melanie Jaggard, from Abergavenny, Wales suffers from Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma (ACC) an extremely rare and little-funded form of terminal cancer. Being the first known person with ACC to get pregnant – and with twins – the stakes have now been raised and the race is on to find a cure.
Mel says “Cancer Research and pharmaceutical companies understandably don’t fund any research into ACC because it is so rare, but with the help of our friends and family, we hope to raise awareness of ACC, and ultimately to help more UK and worldwide sufferers. I am determined to beat the odds!”
Husband Charlie says “Since I met Mel, I have become heavily involved in trying to raise awareness of ACC. We are blessed to be expecting twins in September so my personal interest in finding a cure – very soon – just tripled.”
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The first time Mel’s cancer was discovered was in 2007 when she was receiving treatment for ear problems thought to be caused by a ruptured eardrum. After several unsuccessful treatments and further exploration, a tumour the size of a fist was found inside Mel’s head. Barely having recovered from the shock of the diagnosis, Mel was whisked in to have the tumour removed in a major 10 hour operation, followed by six weeks of intense daily high-dosage radiation. Mel astounded all the doctors and nurses with the speed of her recovery and her ability to keep a smile on her face throughout some pretty tough times. Although everyone knew it would be back eventually, life looked pretty good for Mel as she was now fighting fit and had just met the man of her dreams, Charlie.
Mel and Charlie met on MySingleFriend.com, very soon after Mel got the all clear. It was a whirlwind romance and they moved in within six weeks of their first date. A year later, Charlie popped the question in front of the Notre Dame in Paris, and the fairy tale ending seemed inevitable.
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No one supports research into ACC other than the sufferers themselves, the Get A-head foundation in the UK (www.getahead.org.uk) and the ACC Research Foundation (www.accrf.org) in the United States.
How can you get involved and help?
How can you get involved and help?
You can help Mel and Charlie raise awareness and funding for further research by supporting Charlie’s bike ride. Please visit their page here:
http://www.justgiving.com/end2end4acc
On Monday 8th August a dedicated group of enthusiastic cyclists will begin the 920 mile cycle from John O’Groats to Lands End, taking 11 days to cycle from the top of Scotland to the tip of Cornwall.
On Monday 8th August a dedicated group of enthusiastic cyclists will begin the 920 mile cycle from John O’Groats to Lands End, taking 11 days to cycle from the top of Scotland to the tip of Cornwall.
The aim is to raise as much money as possible to help find a cure for this rare form of cancer.
Please dig deep and do what you can to help - and we really need everyone to help us spread the word - so please pass on this story to everyone you know so they can get involved too!
If you see the intrepid group of cyclists along the way then make sure there's lots of cheers to spur them on!
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Monday 8th August – John O’Groats to Tain
Tuesday 9th – Tain to Invergarry
Wednesday 10th – Invergarry to Arduli
Thursday 11th – Arduli to Cumnock
Friday 12th – Cumnock to Carlisle
Saturday 13th – Carlisle to Preston
Sunday 14th – Preston to Shrewsbury
Monday 15th – Shrewsbury to Gloucester
Tuesday 16th – Gloucester to Taunton
Wednesday 17th – Taunton to Camelford
Thursday 18th – Camelford to Land’s End