Andrea Sheardown and her daughter Amelia are preparing to cycle through Vietnam and Cambodia this February in aid of AMMF, the UK’s only cholangiocarcinoma cancer charity.
The feat is made all the more impressive given that just a few years ago – at the age of 44 – doctors told Andrea that she had barely weeks left to live.
The Sandbach business woman and mother of three will be enduring temperatures of 39°C and 80% humidity when she takes on the gruelling challenge.
Andrea and Amelia will cycle a total of 450km along with a team of 16 supporters, dubbed Andrea’s AMMF Army.
Some members of the squad also joined Andrea when she successfully climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in February 2018, another major fundraiser for AMMF.
In addition to the Kilimanjaro climb, Andrea’s fundraising activities have also included the Three Peaks Challenge, a fire-walk across red hot coals, and more recently a Christmas Charity bag-pack at Morrisons in Middlewich.
Altogether Andrea and her AMMF Army have helped raise more than £42,000 for the charity, which is dedicated to tackling the world’s second most common primary liver cancer.
Andrea was just 44 years old when her first initial complaints of severe pains in her rib cage were subsequently diagnosed as the rare form of liver cancer in October 2015.
Having undergone major surgery to remove the tumour, and following a sixth-month course of chemotherapy which finished in July 2016, Andrea is now cancer free – and there is no stopping her!
Andrea explained: “I always knew that I didn’t want my fundraising efforts to end with climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
“I wanted to achieve something of equal significance in which friends and family might also participate.
“Just as my son Sam was able to join me on the Kilimanjaro climb last year, so I am delighted and excited at the prospect of having Amelia cycle with me this year; having my daughter join me for what is sure to be the cycle ride of our lives, is what continues to spur me on.”
Amelia added: “This will be the furthest I’ve ever cycled and whilst it will be a massive challenge, knowing what my mother has been through in her experience with cholangiocarcinoma, will be in my thoughts every pedal of the way.
“I am so proud to be able to support her ambitious fundraising target to help fund the fight against this cancer.”
Helen Morement CEO, AMMF commented: “We are always extremely grateful for Andrea’s support and we wish her, Amelia and all members of Andrea’s AMMF Army, the very best of luck for this cycle ride.
“Andrea’s story reminds us cholangiocarcinoma is indiscriminate; it can affect anyone and the incidence is increasing across all age groups, including younger people.
Now more than ever, ongoing research is required to find the causes of this disease so we can develop better diagnostic tests and more effective treatments.”
Andrea and Amelia’s ride will take place from 17th-24th February, and all the cyclists will return home to the UK on 26th February.
