Why I’m cycling in Sir Chris Hoy’s Tour de 4 with stage 4 lung cancer

‘Getting on a bike, seeing what my body is capable of, being part of a community lifts my soul.’

Mel Erwin is 57 and lives with her partner Sarah in London. She was first diagnosed with EGFR+ non-small cell adenocarcinoma in 2020 and had surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Unfortunately, a recurrence was confirmed in April 2024.

We talked to her about her decision to sign up to Sir Chris Hoy’s Tour de 4 cycling fundraiser.

“My world fell apart when I was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2020 aged 52. As a non-smoking woman, I had no idea it was even possible.

But over time, despair and sorrow have morphed into hope and realistic optimism. With the love and care of those around me, including my medical team, I have a shining, positive approach to my time here on the planet. Love is the Drug as the band Roxy Music once wrote.

I am now diagnosed as stage 4, incurable but treatable. I live well with lung cancer thanks to the wondrous world of medical research. The targeted therapy drug I take daily, a tiny pill at 10pm every night, has reduced the size of my tumours. And I tolerate the side effects because I’m thankful the drug exists at all.

In truth, I feel lucky.

I followed Sir Chris Hoy’s story when he announced to the world that he had stage 4 cancer. He and I don’t have an awful lot in common. He is knighted and a six-time Olympic gold medallist for cycling. I have a rusting bike in the back garden. But we do both spread the word about what it means to live joyous, meaningful lives with advanced cancer. I value what he is doing enormously.

When I saw the Tour de 4 event advertised, I declared to my fiancé Sarah, ‘let’s do this!’ Surprising since I have done zero aerobic exercise since my diagnosis and, if I’m perfectly honest, not much more beforehand either. I was moved by his commitment to lifting the lid on advanced cancer, to showing ourselves, our families and the world what we are capable of.

We both believe that:

We need to talk about cancer – 1 in 2 of us will get it in our lives
People can live beautiful, meaningful lives with stage 4 cancer
Hope is our rocket fuel
Research into new and better treatments is vital for all cancers.

I am nothing if not enthusiastic! When I found out it was taking place on 7^th September – my 58^th birthday – it felt like a divine intervention. Sarah and I signed up for the blue ride, 37.5 miles. 37.5 actual miles of cycling on an actual bike in Glasgow.

I started training just over three weeks ago. I felt like a six-year-old circling the lake in our local park. My first ride was nearly 3 miles. And, despite having one and a half lungs, and wheezing, huffing and puffing around the cycle paths of London, I can now cycle nearly 9 miles.

I love being on a bike. I feel liberated. I feel connected to little Mel who first rode a shiny red Raleigh bike in the 1970s. I love seeing blossom trees, magnolias; cycling along canal paths and seeing swans nesting; smiling at other cyclists and wondering what they too may be carrying mentally, physically or emotionally.

I feel proud of myself, for making that first revolution of the wheels, for cycling three times a week. I’m taking it slowly. As a dear friend said to me, ‘It’s a ride, not a race. Enjoy it.’ I am meeting other cancernauts (as I call them) via social media and we are spurring one another on. It’s magical and moving.

“When it came to deciding who to raise money for, it was instinctive to choose Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. This fabulous charity changed my outlook on having lung cancer.

“Cancer is so isolating. During recovery in 2021, I read every case study on the site. Here were people living, truly living, with lung cancer. With hope. Since then, I have represented the charity at four different events and been part of a podcast. I love the team. I would say yes to anything they asked! They feel like part of my cancer family.”

Sarah and I are going big and aiming for £10,000. It’s a lot of money. The funds will contribute to a new lung cancer research fellowship in honour of the late MP Sir James Brokenshire who sadly died of lung cancer. With every donation, our hearts leap. As I wheeze my way around London, I feel all the kind people who have contributed cheering me on from their sofas.

If you are thinking of signing up to the Tour de 4 find out more here. https://www.tourde4.com They have different length cycle ride options; one is in fact for the whole family to do.

And if you want to ask me any questions or need encouragement, feel free to message me on Instagram.

Sir Chris wrote, ‘I am not trying to pretend that every day is amazing. But I have genuine moments of joy’. And I too want to shine a light on what the world looks like from here; to let people know what we cancer patients appreciate from our kin and that its okay, in fact it’s vital, to talk about cancer. To let anyone going through the unimaginable know, I see and hear you. We are alive. We are here. Keep shining. And maybe, just maybe, get your bike out of the shed.”