An award-winning farmer is set to embark on a 5,000-mile journey around the coast of mainland Britain to raise money for a kidney cancer charity.
Next month, Jon Birchall, who is terminally ill with kidney cancer, will embark on the journey to raise money for the James Whale Fund.
Mr Birchall is 54 and married to Sarah. In 2010 he won the BBC Farmer of The Year, the same year that his cancer was misdiagnosed.
In 2013 he underwent surgery to remove his left kidney and a tumour. Tragically, the cancer had already spread to his lungs.
In his remaining “30 to 40 months”, Mr Birchall aims to promote the awareness for early diagnosis of the disease, and to raise funds for research into treatments and the eventual cure of kidney cancer.
Speaking about his illness, he said: “Receiving the news that my kidney cancer had spread, and that my prognosis was terminal had a devastating effect on Sarah and I, as well as our friends and family.
“I’m not a do-nothing person, and once I’d conquered the initial shock,I made my mind up to do everything I could to prevent other people suffering the same fate. I want to emphasise to everyone, including the medical profession, the vital importance of early diagnosis of kidney cancer; because if caught early, there is a very good chance of achieving a cure.”
Mr Birchall will set off from the Comedy Carpet beneath the iconic Blackpool Tower on Saturday, June 6. He will be travelling on his “trusty” 28-year-old Yamaha FJ1200 motorbike, and will reach Scotland on July 4. His route will take him via Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen. He will arrive at Fyvie Castle, one of his many-planned National Trust stops, for a “cup of tea” on Sunday, July 5 – before finishing the day overlooking the sea at Banff. After a day’s rest at Netherdale, near Aberchirder, he will travel to Inverness, John O’ Groats and Tongue, before turning south down the west coast via Ullapool.
He said of his ride: “Come out, say hello or get on your bike and join me for a few – or many – miles but please, give to the fund because it is so important. The money raised will be used to fund early detection awareness campaigns and also pay for a research assistant to look for ways to detect kidney cancer earlier and eventually find a cure.”