An inspirational fundraising father and daughter from Congleton are pedaling their support for The Christie in the Great Manchester Cycle.

The cycling event is just one challenge from a long list that avid supporter and ex-patient, Emmanuel Iyoha, is training for in aid of the charity. For Emmanuel, 50, fundraising is his way of thanking The Christie, the event's official local charity, for helping him recover from cancer and go on to have more children.

Following the diagnosis and treatment of Hodgkin's Lymphoma at the South Manchester cancer centre in 1989, Emmanuel, an IT engineer, took the step of having his sperm frozen as the chemotherapy treatment was likely to leave him infertile. To Emmanuel and his wife Zoe's delight, their daughters Poppy, aged five, and Ella, three, were born as a result of using the frozen sperm.

Emmanuel and Poppy will be cycling in the event on Saturday 4^th June, when - for the first time ever - cyclists will have the chance to ride on the Mancunian Way.  It is normally closed to cyclists as Manchester's two-mile urban motorway.  Cyclists can choose to complete the course in three distances; 13, 26 or 52 miles so all abilities are welcome.

Emmanuel said:

"I have The Christie to thank for my lovely family. Taking part in sporting events, like the Great Manchester Cycle, with my daughter is a real privilege as she is testament to the care and support that I received at The Christie."

Since Emmanuel completed his treatment he has tirelessly participated in events to fundraise for the specialist cancer centre such as the Great Manchester Run, cycling in the Manchester 100 and the Manchester to Blackpool challenge. Not put off by epic challenges, Emmanuel has climbed to Everest Base camp, the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro and has recently trekked to Machu Picchu. As with the Great Manchester Cycle, his whole family has joined Emmanuel in getting behind The Christie and his children have taken part in the Junior and Mini Great Manchester Run. In 2013, Emmanuel is hoping to complete a trek across the Avenue of Volcanoes in Ecuador; the 200km route takes in 14 volcanoes all above 15, 000, also for The Christie.  

To thank Emmanuel for his passionate and exceptional dedication, The Christie has named him as one of our 2012 Sporting Heroes.

Register your place to cycle for The Christie by visiting the Great Manchester Cycle website (http://www.greatcycle.org/). If you have already signed up and would like to support The Christie, contact  the events team on 0161 446 3400 or events@christies.org.

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