Altrincham cancer survivor’s 'oar-some' challenge' for stand up to cancer

David Sing, aged 30, who works at Sports Direct in Altrincham, will be proudly taking his place in a team of cancer survivors and celebrities who will be paddling five canoes over 120 miles in five days.

Starting in Chester on Monday, September 25, the rowers will navigate the canals and locks of Warrington and Manchester before finishing at Liverpool’s Albert Dock on Friday, September 29.

Stand Up To Cancer’s Great Canoe Challenge aims to inspire people across the North West and the UK to raise money for vital research into the disease.

A host of celebrity supporters, including TV presenter Anthea Turner, Judge Rinder, TV personality Michelle Heaton and Hollyoaks stars, will be joining David each day to help him reach the finish line.

A joint fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4, Stand Up To Cancer aims to speed up the translation of incredible scientific discoveries into innovative cancer medicine, tests and treatment.

As the countdown starts to the paddling extravaganza, David is calling on people across Altrincham, Sale and Trafford to show their support by donating online at www.standuptocancer.org.uk/canoe

He is determined to rally Trafford residents to the cause following his own experience of the disease.

Supporters will be outside the Waterside Arts Centre at midday in Sale on Wednesday, September 27 along with supporters to cheer David and his team mates along.

David, from Bootle, Merseyside, was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2012 when a scan at Fazakerley Hospital - now Aintree University Hospital found two tumours – the size of a small pebble – in his left testicle.

He had surgery to remove the tumours at Fazakerley Hospital followed by intensive chemotherapy for nine weeks at the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre where he remembers bursting into tears at his first session when he saw an old lady who was also being treated and had lost her hair. He is now coming up to five years of clear scans.

The 30-year-old, along with girlfriend Chloe, 26, from Dovecot, has already raised more than £10,000 for Stand Up To Cancer and knows only too well how crucial new developments and breakthroughs in treatment are in helping children and adults survive cancer.

He decided early on in his treatment he wanted to do something proactive to fight back again the disease and together with his girlfriend Chloe has already raised more than £10,000 for Stand Up To Cancer through an annual football match and charity night and raffle auction.

David, who lives at home with his mum Christine, dad Stephen, sister Jenni, 25, and 20-year-old brother Adam, said: “It was a shock when I was diagnosed with cancer but thanks to research and treatment I’m still here today.

“I was only 25 at the time and cancer wasn’t really something which was on my radar back then but now I think it’s really important for young men to talk about cancer because although our cancer risk goes up as we get older, it’s not just something which affects older people.

“For me, my motivation to Stand Up To Cancer is to encourage others to do the same. By taking part in the Great Canoe Challenge I’m helping to turn my cancer experience into a positive.

“Hopefully it will show people that there can be life after a cancer diagnosis and I want to inspire as many people as possible to support Stand Up To Cancer’s amazing research.”

David will start the challenge in a two-man canoe shared with TV presenter Anthea Turner, who he met at a recent training day.

Anthea said: “I’m delighted to be supporting this brilliant challenge for Stand Up To Cancer. Meeting all the paddlers who’ve experienced cancer first-hand is going to be really inspirational and I’m so happy to be joining David in his canoe. He is undertaking a heroic challenge and I’m excited to be a part of it and help raise funds for cutting-edge research.

“Cancer doesn’t discriminate and too many lives are cut short by this devastating disease. I’m calling on men and women in my home city of Stoke-on-Trent, and all across the UK, to get behind us and join the rebellion. We need to act now and help fund the game-changing research that will save lives.”

Alison Barbuti, Cancer Research UK’s spokesperson for the North West, said: “We are delighted that David is taking on such an epic challenge for Stand Up To Cancer.

“The Great Canoe Challenge aims to inspire people across the Merseyside to join the rebellion against cancer and raise funds for life-saving research. Our team of heroic paddlers will be joined by an army of celebrity supporters as they power their canoes towards the finish line.

“We’re calling on people to show their support and help fund game-changing research. Money raised will fund cutting-edge research that accelerates new cancer treatments and tests to UK patients to ultimately save more lives. One in two of us in the UK will develop cancer in our lifetime, so now is the time to act.”

Since it was launched in the UK in 2012, Stand Up To Cancer has raised more than £38million to fund over 40 clinical trials and research projects.

These include the development of the ‘chemo package’ to deliver treatment at the best time for the patient; testing arsenic as a weapon to make cancer implode and using viruses to seek and destroy cancer cells.

Alison added: “Around 41,700 people are diagnosed with cancer in the North West every year*. Every day, scientists and researchers work tirelessly to beat the disease, and with the support of the people of the North West, we can continue to fund ground-breaking research to help save more lives, more quickly.

“There are so many ways to get involved so we’re calling on people across the city to stand up, raise cash and take cancer out.”

Stand Up To Cancer is supported by a host of celebrities from TV, film and radio including Davina McCall, Alan Carr, Bill Bailey, Edith Bowman and Kirstie Allsopp. This autumn Channel 4 will once again bring the brightest stars from show business together in a dedicated season of Stand Up To Cancer programming.