Pensioner and Trustee Director, Dave Tyson, is taking to the saddle throughout September to raise funds for this very personal cause.

Dave himself has battled cancer over the past 5 years and has undergone several bouts of treatment.

In 2018, Dave retired from a long career as a train driver and ASLEF representative, following an initial period of ill health, which led to him losing a kidney.

Since then, he has also received treatment for bladder cancer, including a pioneering treatment, first developed for tuberculosis.

Dave says he feels “indebted to those whose research discovered the link which hopefully has cured me and thousands of others” and now wants to “put something back.”

He will be cycling the country lanes around his North Norfolk home throughout September, with the aim of clocking up 300 miles by the end of the month.

In doing so, Dave will be fundraising for Cancer Research UK, which aims to beat cancer through research, influence and information.

Speaking about the forthcoming challenge, Dave said: “I consider myself extremely lucky to have the good health to be able to finish working and live an active retirement, much of which I could not have done without those in the NHS who cared for me alongside my wife and son.”

“With this in mind I have decided to try and make a small contribution to the excellent work carried out by Cancer Research UK.

“I’ve had the cycling bug for a while, but this time I’ll be pedalling harder than ever because I want to raise money for life-saving research and help bring forward the day when all cancers are cured.”

Anyone who wants to sponsor Dave can do so through his Just Giving page here. He will also be updating the page regularly for anyone who wishes to follow his progress.

Chris Hannon, Chair of the Trustee, said: “Dave has served the members of the railways pension schemes as a Trustee for more than 20 years.  In that time he has made an outstanding contribution to the ongoing stewardship of our schemes. This same sense of drive and commitment will surely serve him well in this cycling challenge and we wish him the very best of luck.”

Dave will be retiring from his long standing role as a Trustee Director later this year (2021). You can find out more about him, his fellow Trustees and their role in protecting members’ interests, here