This week is a very big week for Mel Erwin. On Sunday, Mel is turning 58 and instead of marking the occasion with a lovely lie in, maybe a spot of lunch and cake, she’s taking part in Sir Chris Hoy’s Tour de 4 cycling challenge (although we think cake will still be involved at some point!)
Joining us on our Talk of Hope podcast, Mel tells us about the challenge and how it’s about so much more than cycling…
A simple yet powerful mission
When six-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy revealed his stage four prostate cancer diagnosis, it was a shock to many. Here was a man who had spent his life pushing the limits of physical endurance, suddenly faced with one of life’s hardest challenges. But in true Chris Hoy spirit, he didn’t retreat – he created something extraordinary.
This Sunday (7th September), Sir Chris is leading the Tour de 4: a mass-participation cycling event in Glasgow, named to play on both “Tour de Force” and “stage four.” Its mission is simple yet powerful:
- Change perceptions of stage four cancer.
Too often, stage four is seen as synonymous with “the end.” But thanks to research, new drugs, and better awareness, many people are living well with cancer—working, raising families, and yes, even cycling 37 miles around the hills (mountains!) of Glasgow. - Raise vital funds for cancer charities.
Sir Chris has set a target of £1 million to support organisations like Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, funding research and patient support. - Build community and hope.
Cancer can be isolating, but events like this bring people together—across diagnoses, ages, and abilities. They remind us that we are not alone.
As someone living with stage four lung cancer, I knew immediately that I had to take part. I might not be “sporty” – I didn’t even own a bike when I signed up – but this challenge has given me new energy, new confidence, and new reasons to trust my body again.
Training for the Blue Route
The Tour de For offers four distances, from a challenging 56-mile “red route” to more accessible rides. I proudly chose the blue route: 37.5 miles. That’s still a serious distance for someone with one and a half lungs, on daily cancer medication, and about to turn 58.
When I started training in March, my first ride was just 2.8 miles around the park. But with persistence (and a few croissant breaks along the way), I’ve built up to 26 miles. There have been plateaus, frustrations, and tears, but also moments of pure joy – flying downhill, feeling alive, feeling free.
A generous donation of a bike from White Bikes transformed my training, and cycling alongside my partner Sarah has kept me motivated. It hasn’t always been easy, but it’s been profoundly healing. Cancer often robs you of trust in your body. Cycling has given that trust back.
Why Research Matters
This challenge is about more than cycling. It’s about research – the research that makes it possible for people like me to still be here, living well, four years after diagnosis.
I’m currently on a targeted therapy drug and life is good. But my body will one day become resistant to it, and I’ll need another option. That’s why funding new trials is so vital – not just for me, but for the thousands of people diagnosed with lung cancer every year.
Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation has just appointed its latest research fellow, Dr. Roya Behrouzi, who is investigating whether there is a way to use cfDNA testing to benefit patients with early-stage lung cancer. This could mean patients are diagnosed faster and can start treatment earlier. That’s the kind of breakthrough research we’re riding for.
Motion and Emotion
This event is about hope, connection, and celebration. For me, it has also been about healing. Cycling has unlocked something deeply emotional – movement as medicine.
After surgery, chemo, and years of treatment, my body felt stuck. Training has reawakened it, restored my confidence, and reminded me that I am still capable of joy, strength, and progress.
Cancer is full of ups and downs. On a bike, it’s the same—the climbs are tough, but the descents are exhilarating. That metaphor has carried me through training, and it will carry me through Glasgow’s hills.
Keep the Wheels Turning
On Sunday, alongside thousands of others, I’ll be cycling in the Tour de 4 – wearing my Roy Castle top, gold sparkly nails, and a smile. There will be laughter, tears, and new friendships. And at the end, there will be a party—not to commiserate cancer, but to celebrate life.
Because stage four is not the end. It’s still life, still motion, still hope.
And as our motto goes: Keep the wheels turning.
You can help Mel and Sarah reach their £10,000 target and help fund vital, life saving research for lung cancer by donating to their Go Fund Me page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/lung-cancer-research-for-longer-lovelier-lives