A Scottish retired doctor who saw hundreds of cases of one of the UK’s rarest cancers, sarcoma, is preparing to join Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy’s charity ride to raise awareness of the disease that claimed so many of his patients’ lives.
Dr Jeff White was a medical oncologist specialising in sarcoma for over 20 years. He worked at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre in Glasgow and was the lead clinician for the Scottish Sarcoma Network.
On 7 September, he will be taking part in an event called Tour de 4, which has been organised by Olympian Sir Chris Hoy, who has stage 4 prostate cancer.
Starting and finishing at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow, Tour de 4 offers four different routes, so entrants can pick one that best suits their ability. Riders will be raising funds for their own chosen cancer charities.
Jeff, 56, will be cycling a 37-mile route on roads to the north of Glasgow and is raising money for Sarcoma UK. Sarcoma UK funds vital research, offers support for anyone affected by sarcoma and campaigns for better treatments. Jeff has run several marathons for the charity in the past.
As an ambassador for Sarcoma UK, raising awareness of the disease is something close to Jeff’s heart. He says late diagnosis was sadly a common feature among the sarcoma patients he saw.
‘The problem of delayed diagnosis remains a particular issue among young people with sarcoma, as it is often assumed that teenagers and young adults are not likely to have a cancer diagnosis. While these delays are a genuine cause for concern, we had to focus on how to manage things going forward – whether the patient needed surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy – rather than looking back.’
A keen runner and cyclist, Jeff has started training on roads near his home in Achiltibuie in Ross and Cromarty.
Sarcoma UK’s Director of Fundraising and Communications, Kerry Reeves-Kneip, said: ‘We’re incredibly grateful to have Dr Jeff White taking part in Sir Chris Hoy’s Tour de 4. Jeff’s two decades of experience treating hundreds of sarcoma patients gives him unique insight into just how desperately we need better treatments and earlier diagnosis for this rare cancer. Having someone of his calibre join Sir Chris, who understands the cancer journey first-hand, sends a powerful message about the urgent need for research funding and awareness. Jeff knows better than anyone how underfunded and under-researched sarcoma remains, and events like this are vital for raising both awareness and the funds needed to develop the life-saving treatments our patients desperately need.’
To donate to Jeff, go to Fundraiser by Jeff White : My Tour De 4 Fundraiser to Fight Cancer
