A GREASBY man has ridden 21km to raise cash for the charity that helped him through his cancer diagnosis.

Glyn Salmon has just returned from completing the 21km long Stelvio Pass in Italy with his friend Graham Hanna raising nearly £4,000 for Maggie’s Merseyside in the process.

Glyn wanted to take on the bike ride four years ago but due to ill-health he had to postpone it until now.

Glyn said: “I have had two bouts of cancer. 

"The first time four years ago I had a small operation followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy, sadly two years late the cancer returned and I had an 11 hour operation followed by a six hour operation four months later.

"The operations have left me with a permanent soma and rare condition called Pudendal Neuropathy / neve entrapment – leaving me with chronic pain and the inability to sit down.

"The disease prevents me from the doing the thing I loved best - cycling, so I have adapted and for the past year I have been riding my recumbent trike.

"This is not a message of pity but a message of hope for people who have to or are dealing with this terrible disease, please just keep going, find ways of adapting and draw on the tremendous love that your beautiful family and friends give you.”

Glyn now volunteers at the Centre, welcoming Centre visitors as they call in for support.

He added: “The love and support I got from my family and friends helped me to get back on my feet, but life was never going to be the same and the mental side of my cancer and my operations was becoming a block in recovering to lead a decent life again. My doctor asked me to go to Maggie’s and see the counsellor.

"I walked into this beautiful building by the side of the cancer unit at Clatterbridge hospital, to welcome of warmth and understanding.

"Kathy and her wonderful team offer any amount of help and advice, with a wonderful smile.

"It is here in Maggies you feel someone is listening to the pain you are in. It is a place where you can open your heart, you can cry, you do laugh and you do make friends”.

Centre head at Maggie’s Kathy Wright said “We’re all blown away by what Glyn and Graham have done for our Centre, and are completely humbled and inspired.

"Congratulations! Not only have they taken on an incredible challenge, having overcome countless barriers to making it up the pass, but they’ve raised such a huge amount of money.

"Every penny will help me and my team be here for people affected by cancer when they need it most.

"Thank you to Glyn and Graham, and everyone that sponsored and supported them, for your generosity and kindness. Glyn is a true gent and our Maggies hero!”.

To sponsor Glyn and Graham visit their JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/glyn-salmon