Press Release - 25th July 2003
Ex-Rugby Star's Remarkable Ride For Christie's
Tony Parr handing cash to Dawn Rodgers, of Christie's. Former Wigan and Leigh rugby league star Geoff Lyon grins with relief as he finishes
the annual Manchester to Blackpool bike ride and a huge personal challenge.
For Geoff (63) has pancreatic cancer and has been treated at Manchester's specialist
The Christie for the last two years. Players and members of the Wigan and
St Helens clubs readily joined family, friends and neighbours in sponsoring Geoff
and his three team mates. Between them they have raised over £2,000 for the famous
cancer centre. Christie's are the main beneficiaries of the ride which attracts
thousands of entries and raised over £100,000 for the cancer centre alone last
year.
Riding
with Geoff were son David, the St Helens junior coach, Keiron O'Loughlin, the
former Wigan and Widnes star and Geoff's nephew Paul Fisher. A really fit trio
and well pleased with their time of 4 hrs 47 mins for the 63 mile course at
an average of 15 mph. But for Geoff that was an immense triumph.
For he rode still attached to the small hip pump which, 24 hours a day, drip
feeds his chemotherapy treatment - and despite the side effects of blistered
feet, hands and mouth.
"I've always kept fit," said Geoff afterwards. "But now I can't
really walk. My seven and eight mile training runs are out. So are upper body
training, rowing and swimming. But I can still ride. I didn't really do the bike
ride for Christie's, I did it for me. For the challenge. To prove to myself that
I could still do it.
"When I was first diagnosed a doctor said: 'Believe in God' and you do need
faith that you can do things. When I finished the ride I felt superb, not heavily
fatigued at all. Now I feel good and pleased that we have been able to help Christie's
because we have had such fantastic support from everyone."
With his wife Helen, Geoff was in Christie's awaiting further treatment when
they noticed an appeal for sponsored riders in the hospital's fund raiser magazine.
Helen said: 'If you are going to do it, then do it for Christie's'. That gave
me the extra motivation I needed and I really trained for it, riding ten miles
a day".
The fighting Wiganer was a noted second row forward for the Cherries and Whites
from the 50s to 70s before moving to Leigh where he finished his playing career.
Later he coached Wigan Colts and the Great Britain youngsters on their first
Australian tour in 1982.
Geoff's cancer came to light at Christmas time three years ago in unusual circumstances.
A joiner, he was cutting wood on a machine when the wood spit back hitting him
hard in the stomach. That triggered a series of health problems leading to diagnosis,
treatment - and his remarkable ride.
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The Christie in Manchester is one of the leading cancer centres in Europe - registering around 12,500 new patients and treating about 40,000 patients every year.
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