Unbelievably it is now thirty years since Bob Champion won the Grand National on Aldaniti. In 1979 Bob was riding high in his career as a jockey, when he was given the news that he had cancer in two parts of his body and possibly only a few months to live.
The dream that he might one day win the Grand National on Aldaniti, who had suffered serious leg inuries and had almost been put down at one stage, kept him going through the long, arduous months of chemotherapy and in 1981 Bob’s dream was realised when he rode Aldaniti to victory at Aintree. His personal victory against cancer and Aldaniti’s triumph over adversity captured the public’s attention and the support he received led to the foundation of The Bob Champion Cancer Trust in 1983.
In 1986 The Bob Champion Research Unit within the Royal Marsden Hospital in Surrey was opened and has supported research in to many aspects of cancer and it’s treatment. 1992 saw the opening of the Bob Champion Lounge, a leisure area for patients requiring long term in patient treatment, in 2000, in conjunction with the Institute of Cancer Research, the first male dedicated cancer research facility in Europe, The Bob Champion Research Centre for Urological Cancers was opened. The number of men with testicular cancer has doubled in twenty years and without the help of many fundraisers the invaluable work done by the Trust would not be possible.
In 2010 Alex Embiricos, the daughter of Aldaniti’s owners, cycled 993 miles from Land’s End to John O’ Groats on her bike ‘Ruby Walsh’ and raised a fabulous 18K for Bob’s Trust. In May 2012, Alex will be repeating the gruelling journey and is inviting 35 members of the public to join her. The bikes will be jockey themed and Alex said ” I had an amazing time last year and this year would love to get an ‘AP’, a ‘Lester’ and a ‘Frankie’ to join me, all again in the name of raising money for The Bob Champion Cancer Trust.” The trip will take an amazingly scenic route but will be at least as challenging as the thirty fence Grand National course!
Bicycle names will be allocated on a first come first served basis, so if you have a a ‘favourite’ you need to get in quickly. Bob Champion will be the starter and will join the riders on, of course, Aldaniti! Each cycle ‘Jockey’ will need to raise a minimum £1000, in addition to the trip’s cost of £1500, every rider will be entered into a raffle with a prize of a week’s R & R at a Portugese villa. The cycle ride will take place from 14th - 25th May 2012 and it is hoped other famous names will also do a few miles. If you can help in any way, find further details at www.bobchampion.org.uk or call 0207 924 3553
