A South East Coast Ambulance Service paramedic from Worthing, diagnosed with cancer, is cycling while receiving his treatment to raise money to fund additional exercise equipment for Worthing Hospital.
Daniel Boardman, 30, (no relation to Chris!), was diagnosed with lymphoma at the start of the year and has been undergoing cycles of chemotherapy at the hospital.
During the sessions, which each last approximately five days, Daniel will be cycling 10 kilometres a day.
Lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, is the fifth most common type of cancer in the UK. It can occur at any age but thankfully is nearly always treatable.
The money raised will be donated to Love Your Hospital, a dedicated charity of University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, which raises funds for St Richard’s, Worthing and Southlands Hospitals.
Daniel said: “Since starting my treatment earlier this year, I spent hour after hour in my bed feeling weaker and weaker. I was told there was an exercise bike on the ward but was unable to get to use it due to someone else using it. When I did get the use of it, I felt amazing and was motivated again to get fit.
“I’m hoping to raise enough money to fund another exercise bike, maybe a treadmill and other machines or tools that can be used in bed by weaker patients.”
Father-of-two Daniel, started with an aim to raise £100 to say thank you to hospital staff but he is already working his way towards a total of £2,000.
“My initial target didn’t last long,” explains Daniel. “My amazing SECAmb colleagues smashed it within hours. I really appreciate the support. It’s just a tiny way for me to say thank you for everything the hospital team does and personally for saving my life.”
David Clayton-Evans, head of charity for Love Your Hospital said: “I’d like to say a huge thank you to Daniel for taking on this fundraising challenge for us in aid of Worthing Hospital. Not only will the funds raised make a real difference to the fitness and wellbeing of other patients, who’ll benefit greatly from having access to exercise equipment, but he’s doing this while still receiving treatment which is really going the extra mile. We all wish him the very best of luck in his challenge and in his own recovery journey.”
Anyone looking to support Daniel’s fundraising efforts can visit Crowdfunding to Buy exercise equipment for cancer patients on JustGiving