Sheffield friends with cancer take on Sir Chris Hoy cycle race

Two friends with stage four cancer are taking on a 38 mile (60km) cycle ride to raise money for charity.

Steve Waldock and Fran McClean, both 78, met while volunteering at Millhouse Parkrun in Sheffield and discovered they had both been diagnosed with terminal cancer and were being treated at the same hospital.

Earlier this year, they signed up to the Tour de 4, a race due to take place on Sunday which was set up by six-time Olympic cycling champion Sir Chris Hoy to change perceptions around stage four cancer after his own diagnosis last October.

Mr Waldock, who has prostate cancer, said: “Hoy’s diagnosis came as a shock to almost everybody, but it resonated with me because it’s my situation.”

“When he announced he wanted to raise awareness – and do that by organising this event – I was dead keen to get involved,” Mr Waldock said.

The Tour de 4 race will start and end at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow, with 5,000 people expected to take part.

Mr Waldock and Ms McLean said Hoy’s story had been an inspiration to them both.

“You may have a stage four cancer diagnosis, as, in fact, does Chris Hoy, but it doesn’t stop you from doing what you want to do,” Mr Waldock said.

“It doesn’t stop you from being athletic, it doesn’t stop you from training or doing whatever you want to do.

“You just have to accommodate the fact you are carrying this affliction with you.

“But, nonetheless, and although my park runs are nothing as spectacular as they used to be five to six years ago, we still do it. We still turn up every Saturday.”

Mr Waldock met Ms McLean, who has breast cancer, while he was marshalling for the Millhouses Parkrun and she was taking photographs of the race.

“It was just the most brilliant coincidence,” Ms McClean explained.

“We were both being treated at the same hospital. We’d both already signed up to do the ride. So, it’s been absolutely brilliant.”

The pair are fundraising for Weston Park Cancer Charity and Cancer Research UK, collectively raising over £6,000 so far.

Ms McClean is the more keen cyclist, having picked up the hobby during the London 2012 Olympics.

“It was a real joy to get the bike out and get out in the Peak District again,” she said.

“There were times I never thought the day would come,” she said.

But Mr Waldock said he would be getting rid of his bicycle once the event was over and returning to his first love – running.

“After this event I’m selling the bike. I’m not doing it again. I don’t enjoy the bike, to be honest with you,” he said.

Mr Waldock said he and his bike “don’t like each other much, but we accommodate each other”.

“So, unless Fran persuades me and gets me an entry for next year, that bike is going afterwards. But let’s see what Sunday brings first.”