A pensioner from Sandbach in Cheshire will be taking part in the North West's biggest bike ride next month for the second year in a row after his successful battle with cancer.

Derek Evans, 70, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2003 but after receiving a highly specialised form of treatment for the disease at The Christie in south Manchester, he is now in remission.

Starting from the iconic home of Manchester United at Old Trafford, Derek will undertake the 60 mile Manchester to Blackpool bike ride on Sunday 4th July to raise money to help other patients. The ride takes participants along country lanes to the finish at Blackpool's Mirror Ball on the South Promenade, where they get to enjoy a barbecue and live music.

After being diagnosed with cancer Derek, a consultant engineer, underwent a procedure called brachytherapy, for which The Christie was one of the first centres in the UK to offer.

It replaces the need for surgery or radiotherapy and involves radioactive seeds, the size of a grain of rice, being directly implanted into the prostate gland. Treatment takes around 45 minutes and means patients can be discharged the same day.

Derek said; "I can't describe how I felt when I got told I had cancer. You hear the word all the time, you wish and hope it'll never happen to you or your loved ones, and so to be given that news was just devastating. My whole world came crashing down - it just destroyed me.

"It was completely unexpected too. I had no side effects, felt fairly fit and healthy, so to say it was a shock is an understatement. You automatically assume the worst as well - I thought that was it."

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in the men in the UK; over 30,000 men are diagnosed every year. The Christie began its brachytherapy programme in 2000, and now treats 150 patients a year with the disease.

Derek said; "The treatment I received was just first class in everyway. I had a strong support network around me - not just family and friends but from staff at The Christie too. I didn't feel like just another patient, I felt cared and closely monitored every step of the way. When I was told that the treatment had been successful I was elated!

"That's why I decided to do the Manchester to Blackpool bike ride for the first time last year. If a place gives you your life back, the very least you can do is a bit of fundraising. I've seen first hand how valued every penny is that comes into the charity. The bike ride is such a positive event with a great atmosphere. I had a great time so I can't wait to do it all again. Knowing what I'd gone through and knowing how outstanding the care I received was, all my loved ones have been more than eager to sign my sponsor form."

Sporting events officer at the Christie charity, Marco Giannini, said; "Derek's story demonstrates how new innovative treatments for cancer are being developed all the time and are helping more and more people to beat the disease. Money raised from events like the Manchester to Blackpool bike ride helps fund ground-breaking research to bring about more treatments that will give more patients the best possible chance of survival.

"Last year over 2,000 people donned their royal blue Christie t-shirts in support of our cause and this year's event promises to be just as fantastic, so we look forward to seeing everyone then!"

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