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...
169 hours with a nurse on our Support Line
or
76 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
£27.05
Akil Chomoko
£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
You are super inspirational Steve. Loving the stories. And all for a great cause.