Chris Cottons stage 4 Bladder Cancer Tour de 4 fund raiser

My name is Chris Cotton. The day after my 50th birthday I was diagnosed with Stage 4 muscular invasive bladder cancer. I was told that it has spread to my lymph nodes in my pelvis and to a vessel close to the bladder. I was also informed that the type of cancer is a very aggressive grade 3 cancer cell. I was given a poor prognosis by my oncologist. Understandably this was a huge shock to me and my supportive and strong wife Hannah and our two wonderful young girls. Early January I started Chemotherapy at the Christie Hospital in Manchester.

While my prognosis isn’t good, I totally accept my position and that the vast majority of this is out of my control. However, I remain positive for the treatments I am receiving. I am open to any other options that may come my way. Life continues and I will enjoy each moment as much as possible.

During my visits for treatment to the Christie Hospital I have taken the opportunity to visit Maggies. Maggies is a sea of calm - a beautiful venue that takes you away from the clinical environments and gives you the space to relax and breath. On some treatment days or when I having blood taken and waiting for treatment Maggies is an essential place for me for space to think and relax in its calming environment.

Maggies provide support to cancer patients, people living with cancer and those that cancer affects the people who support people with cancer. Maggies provides support one to one and group therapies, workshops, psychiatric and psychological help. This is a small flavour of what they provide.

In short Maggies is a mental lifesaver for many. For me Maggies is a place I look forward to visiting when I can.

It is for these reasons I am raising money in aid of THE MAGGIE KESWICK JENCKS CANCER CARING CENTRES TRUST. They have centres across England, Scotland and Wales and some further afield. Every donation will help.

To see what they do in more detail go to: https://www.maggies.org

As part of this fund raising I will be aiming to complete as many of the Tour de 4 virtual Zwift bike rides with Sir Chris Hoy. These virtual training rides are 45mins long and while on chemotherapy, dependant on when they happen in my treatment cycles, these rides can be very tough taking all my effort just to keep the pedals turning.

This will be leading up to a 56mile live bike ride in Glasgow on the 7th September 2025.

I have signed up for this ride and will be there to show that life does indeed go on even with stage 4 cancer. For more about the Tour de 4 go to: https://tourde4.com

Please give as much or as little as you are able. Every donation will make a huge difference and will further motivate me when the going is tough.

Thank you

Much love Chris Cotton