Essex Father of three takes on 2,000 mile cycle challenge in memory of brother who died prematurely of bowel cancer

Brett Golledge aged 41 from Maldon in Essex will take on the challenge of a lifetime by cycling from London to Rome starting September 8, a trip he was going to complete with his brother Clive before he died to bowel cancer aged only 47 years old.

Bowel cancer is the UK’s second biggest cancer killer but many people are still unaware of the symptoms. Every year, over 40,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer and more than 15,700 people die of the disease.

Clive and Brett had originally bought new road bikes after he was diagnosed with bowel cancer shortly after he had completed the London Marathon in May 2011. They planned to ride to Italy together in 2012 as a way of helping Clive stay fit and focused whilst he coped with his cancer treatment. Unfortunately his health declined later that summer, and they never managed to complete the ride together.

Brett says: “I feel it is now time for me to take this challenge on and do this in Clive's memory, while at the same time raise money for a really important charity like Bowel Cancer UK who aims to save lives and improve the quality of life for all those affected by bowel cancer. Clive's son, Ethan aged 16, will ride the last 75 mile stage into Rome with me on his father’s bike, Clive’s daughter, Anais aged ten will also be in Rome to welcome us. With my Mum and Dad driving the support vehicle for the last half of the tour, as you can imagine, there won’t be a dry eye on the tour that day.”

Brett will also have other friends and family driving the support vehicle and cycling with him at various stages of the 2,000 miles to Rome to assist in raising money and to help keep him motivated.

Dani Freedland Head of Community and Events at Bowel Cancer UK says: "Without people like Brett doing amazing fundraising events like this, Bowel Cancer UK couldn’t continue to do the vital work it does to save lives and improve the quality of life for all those affected by bowel cancer.”

To sponsor Brett please go to his just giving page which is http://www.justgiving.com/Brett-Golledge1

For further press information, pictures of the guide or for a Bowel Cancer UK spokesperson, please contact Julia Kouyoumdjian or Grant Imlach in Bowel Cancer UK’s Press Office on 020 7940 1776 or press@bowelcanceruk.org.uk