THREE cancer researchers from the University of Chester’s Medical School have completed a 28-mile charity bike ride to raise money for a blood cancer research charity.

Dr Michelle Cordingley, Jasmine Stanley-Ahmed and PhD student Hannah Schultze took part in the Wirral Bikeathon to fundraise for Bloodwise. According to the charity, blood cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the UK and is the third biggest cause of UK cancer deaths - taking more lives than breast or prostate cancer.

All three of the fundraisers are involved with cancer research at the Chester Medical School.

Dr Michelle Cordingley is programme leader for the MSc in Biomedical Science and MSc Haematology. She has a particular research interest in the blood cancer, leukaemia. For her PhD, which she completed last year, her research focused on understanding how a particular group of cell signalling pathways are involved in leukaemia. (Cell signalling is a communication process that governs the basic activities of cells such as cell growth/ death.) Understanding how these pathways can be altered in order to make leukemic cells respond better to chemotherapy will improve current therapies and, hopefully, survival rates. Michelle also currently has a number of MSc students doing dissertation projects looking at the role of signalling pathways in response to leukaemia therapies.

Jasmine Stanley-Ahmed is the Chester Medical School’s lab technician and demonstrator. She maintains the equipment in the laboratories in Bache Hall, and supports the teaching and research in the labs. She also teaches on several modules across postgraduate programmes and is studying for a PhD part-time. Jasmine’s research is in the area of colorectal cancer.

Hannah Schultze is a second year PhD student, whose research area is breast cancer. Hannah completed her undergraduate degree in biology at The Open University. She particularly enjoyed the human biology and genetics module and decided to further her knowledge in this area by studying for an MSc in Medical Genetics at the University of Chester. Hannah’s MSc allowed her to develop a wealth of new research, laboratory and analytical skills, which prepared her for her current PhD studies. Breast cancer has a high mortality rate in women and, because of this, new therapeutic strategies are needed. Hannah has a keen interest in the use of alternative cancer therapies, in particular, the use of plant extracts.

Michelle said: “We did it! It took us just under three hours to do the 28 miles (and we were very grateful for the biscuit stops at the control points!).

“Despite our different cancer research interests, the three of us understand how vital research is, and the costs implicated, hence the need to fundraise. Although none of us are keen cyclists, we do like to get out on our bikes when the sun comes out and have ridden together a few times. Jasmine saw this ride advertised and entered us. With the constant rain in the lead up to the ride, we had no opportunity to train together for this, but luckily the Wirral is fairly flat! The weather held out for us too on the day - we had a little shower in the middle but the refreshing rain was very much welcomed.”

Jasmine added: “We have currently raised £175 for Bloodwise through our JustGiving Page – which remains open for those who would still like to donate. We are also very grateful to everyone who has donated so far.”

Their JustGiving page is: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jasmine-stanley-ahmed1?utm_campaign=pfp-tweet&utm_content=Jasmine-Stanley-Ahmed1&utm_medium=fundraisingpage&utm_source=Twitter&utm_term=DPB4Pdzve