From Twickenham to Lechlade and back

By Steve Tatham

I'm fundraising for Pancreatic Cancer UK.

I am taking on pancreatic cancer – the deadliest common cancer – through a boat trip upriver on the Thames in my open, historic wooden workboat, Tough 1. I will be travelling upriver to Lechlade and then back downriver to Eel Pie Island during July and August. I am determined to raise much needed funds for Pancreatic Cancer UK, which will go towards vital research into early diagnosis and treatment, as well as support for those affected by the disease. During the trip, Tough 1 and I will be involved in the Thames Traditional Boat Festival in Henley and the Association of Thames Yacht Clubs Rally at Shepperton Marina. I will also be stopping at the towns and villages along the route.

I have chosen to support the charity because I have the disease and have now been having treatment for eight years. As PCUK fund much of the research into improved treatments for pancreatic cancer, I feel that I should help with the fundraising towards that. After a Well Man Clinic at the beginning of 2017, I was sent for further tests, something having shown up in a scan. It wasn’t until that summer that it was confirmed that there were four tumours in my pancreas. Further, they were found to be hereditary, which I didn’t know pancreatic cancer could be, until mine was! It made me realise how little really is known about the disease and gave me cause to help PCUK in raising funds for research. I’ve been lucky so far; the five year survival rate for pancreatic cancer is still just 7%, whereas I have currently been receiving treatment for eight years. So, all support in helping me to raise funds for this worthy cause will be very much appreciated.

Pancreatic cancer is the deadliest common cancer. It has vague symptoms, such as back pain, indigestion and unexpected weight-loss which are also common to many less serious health conditions. Due to this, the disease often goes undetected until after it has spread to other parts of the body. More than half of people with pancreatic cancer die within three months of diagnosis. Pancreatic Cancer UK is taking on this devastating disease by investing in ground-breaking research and supporting patients and their loved ones through its free-phone Support Line staffed by specialist nurses.

My donations could fund...

168 hours with a nurse on our Support Line

or

75 hours of early diagnosis research

My Achievements

I've added a profile picture

Reached 100% of goal

Reached 50% of goal

Shared page

Self donated

Thank you to my Sponsors

£25

Andy Dover

£106

Penny & Doug

Fantastic-you got there. Down hill on the way back 😀

£100

Mike & Nicky

Great to see you at the Trad, Steve! Good luck, Mike & Nicky

£27.05

Jess

Well done Steve!! Enjoying your updates 😁 Jess xx

£11.33

Martin Doyle

Just a small contribution but it all adds up 🙏

£61.70

Lis Bell

Good Luck Steve

£21.84

Sam Thomas

Good luck Steve

£58

David Trigg

Great Work Steve. Brilliant effort. All the best. Dave

£20

Emi

Well done Steve.

£27.05

Anita Neale

Good luck. I hope you exceed your target.

£11.33

Emma Jackson

£21.84

Steve & Chris Wright.

My wife and I met Steve at Boulters Lock during our hired Thames boating holiday. Steve was most helpful. Keep going Steve and good luck for the future. Sorry that we didn't have cash on the day of our meeting.

£21.84

Christopher K

Well done Steve and good luck with Tough 1.

£50

Chuck

Epic journey Steve. Thought I’d be bored shitless by the blog, but it’s actually very entertaining. Look forward to the book (Ulysses ‘25?). All the best, Chuck

£21.84

Graham

All the best 1 arm

£20

Geoff Lysaght

Good luck Steve ill see you on the river

£20

Dave And Rocket

Power to your one elbow Steve

£26.45

Anonymous

£27.05

Alexandra Kingston

Well done Steve

£21.84

Bex Halden

Steve, you are an inspiration! Wishing you all the best with your mission to spread the word to the world xxx

£53.32

Liz Poole

Wishing you fair winds on your journey

£27.05

Steve Gardener

well done steve.. hope it all goes well

£27.05

Martin Thomas

£100

David And Rebecca Wallis

This is a noble endeavour, Steve, and the Whatsapp chronicle of your voyage has been very enjoyable! Best wishes.

£106

Eddie Shepherd

Well done Steve.

£53.32

Amy Atkinson

Well done! And keep going! xxx

£106

Wendy Tobitt

Wonderful to meet Steve at Henley today. I hope your trip to Lechlade and back will be a lot of fun and great fund-raiser!

£21.84

John Wildgoose

Fair play Steve x

£50

Sarah Sutton

So lovely to meet up and well done on the fundraising! Get your bum to Norfolk soon for some Broads boat action. 💋 xx

£27.05

Evelyn & Paul

£106

Louise Pendlebury

Hi Steve I hope you reach your fund raising goal. My sister passed away 10 weeks ago today. She lived for three months after diagnosis. It’s such a brutal disease and your experience shows that if caught early the outcomes are better. I wish you well in your endeavours and for raising awareness.

£61.70

The Angel (henley) Ltd

Great to catch up with you Steve. Look after yourself. 😃

£32.23

Priya, Ash , Rish Bhola

Hi Steve We are ches’s kids. Well done and good luck

£27.05

John And Anne Brinicombe

Great cause Steve. Well done!

£40

Kiko Manevski

Good luck Steve!

£37.47

Sefton

£25

George Rowell

£53.32

Ollie Utton

Good luck Steve

£106

David Mcgeachie

One Arm this is really amazing. In some ways I wish you weren't pushing yourself like this but well done. If you need a run back here any time give me a call. I;m usually around. Best wishes Dave

£106

Barrington Orr

Well done Steve, magnificent effort for a great cause.

£27.05

Clive Evans

Glad you're still with us. Good luck on the trip.

£16.56

Simon Sbc

Hi Steve , fantastic effort,amazing trip . Enjoy the Trad . Cheers

£53.32

Simon Gander

Great cause. Good luck

£20

Mick Small Boat Club

Superb stuff Steve, your doing brilliant and it's an awesome cause. Mucho love and best wishes Mick SMall Boat Club

£53.32

Tim Utton

Good luck on your journey, Steve. We are all thinking of you

£61.70

Greig Sutton

Amazing effort Steve. Proud of what you are doing. Wish I could share a leg with you. Enjoying the tales from the riverbank! You are both Tough 1s.

£27.05

Karen Williams

Great charity, my Mum passed away from Pancreatic Cancer in 2023 and is missed everyday x

£61.70

Julie Voller

Great to see you at Boulters today…all the best for your trip and reaching your goal !

£11.33

Henry Cope-harrison

What a great trip. Hope Tough 1 toughs it out.

£27.05

Dan Kocev

£11.33

Martins Marine Engineering Uk Ltd

Great to meet you Steve!

£15.54

Derek Taylor

£27.05

Catherine & Jason

Well done again steve

£20

Mark Utton

Keep smashing it mate!

£31.51

Ann Baldwin

Very well done Steve. Good luck and have a great trip x

£21.84

Paul Cabell

Aya Aya captain good luck ... cabs

£20

Tamsin Wilkins

Go Tatjana. Hope the weather is favourable xx

£106

Ralph & Christiane

Good luck Steve, hope the weather is kind to you!

£27.05

Patrick Blackburn

Good luck Steve

£27.05

Anonymous

£100

James Williams

Good luck Steve. Howard at Teddington Harbour alerted me to your challenge. Having lost an uncle, cousin and brother in law to PC, I'm happy to support you. Enjoy the river.

£10

Alison Lyen

From.Alison Lyen

£53.32

Rich Ingram

Hope the weather holds, good luck Steve

£27.05

Brian North

You’re doing a great thing and demonstrating the very embodiment of triumph over adversity, good luck and Godspeed!

£26.45

Tony Tait

Good luck mate

£103.60

John Sewell

Bon voyage Steve. John & Dabbie.

£106

Carmel

Good luck!!!

£25

Martin Woodford

£61.70

Tom, Elissavet & Legacy

Brilliant Steve Wishing you fair winds and following seas This is your journey make it a fantastic one

£32.23

Peter Singh

Good luck Steve, Peter

£21.84

Barry Castagnola

Saw this on a WhatsApp from Jim Guynan. Good luck. Great cause. My dad passed away from pancreatic cancer.

£27.05

Dave Chapman

Best of luck Steve! See you once you return!

£27.05

Cindy, Georgina, Adam And Wilf

Good luck, Steve!

£21.84

Deborah

Hi Steve I read about your story in a local magazine and I think what you are doing is wonderful. It's really important to raise money and awareness of pancreatic cancer and you're doing both. Hope you have lots of fun doing it as well and so glad you are doing well with your treatment.

£21.84

June Ryan

Good luck Steve it’s a very worthwhile cause and we look forward to hearing all about it on your return . Regards from June and Ches

£21.84

Simon Gabb

£11.33

Val Crossley

Well done Steve, a good cause

£27.05

Robin Tapp

Good luck

£53.32

Julia Routledge

Good luck Steve …

£25

Devika Shangari (ches)

£21.84

Lalita Malik ( Chess)

Good luck

£27.05

Taj Ubbi

Good luck

£106

Brigid And Eamonn

Good luck Steve - hope you enjoy the trip. Great cause..

£21.84

Julia Turnbull

Good luck Steve !!!

£100

Cider Tony

£106

Carl Thomas

Good luck

£41.83

Jim Guynan

Enoy the journey, Steve.

£106

Lesley Stephen

More than happy to donate again you are certainly doing a great job with your fundraising.

£27.05

Brendon Kavanagh

Nice one. Looking forward to hosting you on Cool Runnins at Walton Marina, who are very supportive of what you are doing

£53.32

Duncan Munro

Great initiative Steve.

£25

Ben Hughes

Good on you Stevo! Pop in for a comp. winners pint when you’re done! Cheers, jawbone Ben

£53.32

Ches Bhola

Good luck steve

£27.05

Anthony Alder

Best of luck - great effort

£27.05

Catt Mcleod

£21.84

Lucas Auton

Well done, cheers Steve

£50

Gordon Maclaren

Best of luck, Steve! Love from Paola and I x

£10

Sandra Murtagh

£27.05

Michele Whitby

You’re a Tough One, One Arm 💪 lotsa love xxx

£53.32

Helen Montgomery-smith

Well Done Steve! Hope you have an amazing trip and back. XX

£61.70

John Forbes

Have a wonderful journey

£27.05

Alex And Anna

You are a rock star. We wish you a great trip!

£10

Justin Cook

Good luck! Ches at Beaconsfield squash club told me all about it.

£27.05

Jane &tony (epi)

May the locks open swiftly Bon voyage Jane and Tony

£25

Steve Tatham

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