A Cornwood man with life-limiting cancer plans to cycle from North to South Devon to raise money for charity.

Pete Blomley was diagnosed with incurable Neuroendocrine Cancer in December 2020.

He wants to raise awareness and funds for the charity NCUK. Pete said ”It’s very important to raise awareness of this kind of cancer both amongst the general public and also GP’s. Microsoft founder Steve Jobs had it and Dr Feelgood guitarist, singer and songwriter Wilco Johnson is living with it.”

Pete told us his story: “For some years I had bouts of abdominal pain - which doctors never really diagnosed. Then during 2020 I started to have what I now realise were episodes of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar – ‘hypos’) after running.

“I thought I was just getting old but after various tests, which ruled out diabetes, in December 2020 I was diagnosed with a rare form of neuroendocrine cancer, namely ‘malignant insulinoma’.

“The hospital found multiple tumours throughout my liver, which had spread from the primary in my pancreas. These tumours produce insulin - which causes hypoglycaemia and left untreated can lead to coma and death. My tumours could not be removed by surgery and there is currently no known cure.

“This had a devastating impact on me and my family. I had been a very fit and active recently retired 62 year old - enjoying my life including becoming a granddad. Most of last year was extremely challenging physically and mentally - I was virtually unable to do anything due to my worsening ‘hypo’ symptoms (which dominated my life, day and night), the effects of chemo treatment and 3 stays in hospital.

“Thanks to the NHS, NCUK and related patient support groups I received the help and support, including counselling, that I really needed to cope with it all and to understand more about my condition and treatment options.

“Recently I have been having targeted radiotherapy (PRRT) at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth. Very fortunately, this has transformed my quality of life and I feel profoundly grateful to be able to live a more normal life again. I still have cancer but I am enjoying making the most of each day - for however long this lasts.”

Pete wanted to say a special thank you to Dr Dell’Anno at Beacon Medical in Ivybridge who referred him to Derriford.

He is planning to cycle with family and friends from Bideford to Cornwood, a distance of 52 miles, on April 15 and 16. He thinks around 15 people will join him for part of the challenge and around five or six will accompany him for the whole way.

Pete said: “I’m really bowled over by the amount of support that I’ve had. People have been incredibly generous especially considering the difficult times we are living in with the war in Ukraine and the cost-of-living crisis.”

If you would like to sponsor Pete you can visit his JustGiving page

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/pete-blomley As of April 4 he had raised £4,038.