A POLICE chief inspector who beat cancer is cycling more 950 miles from Lands’ End to John O’Groats to help a cause close to his heart.
John Haywood, from Tottington, received the shock diagnosis of sarcoma and lymphoma in 2019 and had to endure several surgeries and radiotherapy treatments as a result.
His first surgery was in December 2019 but due to coronavirus lockdowns his treatment was delayed in 2020.
John is now cancer free but during his battle he linked up with MOVE Charity, which encourages and supports patients to exercise during and after treatment.
John, 48, said: “I wanted to give back and help MOVE charity as they advocate health, fitness and wellbeing as well as preventing illness but also is part of recovery as well.
“I had my first surgery in December 2019, just prior to the Covid lockdowns, I’ve always been someone who is active, fit and healthy so it was a shock I had cancer.
“I couldn’t go to the gym which I was used to doing so I ended up buying a second-hand road bike, which I had never been on before.
“But I just got into cycling a lot since and two years later I wanted to give myself a challenge and also give back to help other people out as well.”
John said that he has been training for the bike ride for around six months and is hoping to complete it in nine days.
He sets off today, Saturday.
John added: “People have told me it’s ‘amazing’ and ‘inspiring’ to ‘you’re crazy’! I work for Greater Manchester Police as a chief inspector, and I’ve had a lot of support from people at work as well as friends and family.
“People have been amazingly generous, and we’ve raised around £2,600 now which is just amazing.
“I hope to raise as much as I can. I thought if I can raise a couple thousand pounds that would be great, but I will probably get over £3,000 now.
“If I could raise £3,000 that would be wonderful because the charity is one of the smaller charities, so I’ve been doing a bit to try and promote it, we have leaflets made up which my 10-year-old daughter has been posting through doors where we live to try and get people to support what I’m doing. People have been amazing.”
To donate to the charity, visit John’s JustGiving page at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/johnhaywoodlejog.