Alumnus sets off on charity bike ride

Posted 9 June 2015

Watch the video on our YouTube channel.

Alumnus, Jon Birchall, has now set off on his challenge to complete an epic 5,000 mile charity motorbike ride around mainland Britain. 

In the same year that he graduated with a master's degree in rural enterprise and land management, Jon's cancer was misdiagnosed after going to the doctor with symptoms of fatigue. Despite the correct diagnosis and then surgery in 2013 to remove his left kidney and tumour, it was later found that the cancer had already spread to his lungs. 

To highlight the importance of early detection and raise money for charity, Jon is riding his Yamaha FJ1200 'Thunderbird 1' around the coast of mainland Britain. He hopes to raise £50,000 for vital research that will hopefully develop a test for the early diagnosis of kidney cancer.

Watch the video to hear from Jon, or read the full story here.