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Date of release: 15th October 2024
Darren gets on his bike in £1,000 charity challenge
A male breast cancer survivor is revving up for a charity challenge the length of Britain to raise money for patients and awareness of the condition.
Father of two Darren Pallett, 58, is driving a motorbike 837 miles from John O’Groats to Land’s End and back hoping to raise £1,000 for The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT) Charity and Breast Cancer Now.
The HGV driver from Willenhall splashed out £1,500 on a 10-year-old Suzuki GW250 Inazuma specially for the trip. He plans to drive around 300 miles a day, taking selfies of landmarks and doing bucket collections along the way.
Departing on Friday, 18 October – Breast Cancer Awareness Month’s ‘wear it pink day’ – he will return on Tuesday, 22 October, accompanied by younger brother David Pallett, 57, from Somerset, in his camper van as support.
He will be wearing a pink hi-vis vest, with pink stickers on his helmet and pink ribbons flowing from his motorbike.
Darren was diagnosed with grade two invasive ductal cancer in June 2023, just four days after his wife Fiona felt a lump in his chest, and is urging men to stay alert to the signs and symptoms.
Fiona felt a lump in his chest while he was lying down. She is profoundly visually impaired, and has a heightened sense of touch.
Both his sisters Debbie, 60, and Claire, 56, have recovered from cancer too which made him worry more.
After his operation, he received genetic testing, and the results thankfully came back negative.
“I want to encourage men to feel their breast area monthly as it’s not spoken about enough,” said Darren.
“I work for a truck hire firm with about 50 men and hardly any of them know that men can get breast cancer.
“I want to shout it from the rooftops how important it is for men, as well as women, to check monthly.”
Darren’s sons, aged 36 and 29, didn’t need genetic testing because of their dad’s negative results.
Samantha Bullows, Breast Care Clinical Nurse Specialist, said: “Darren recovered well and is now on a self-managed pathway for five years.
“This includes annual mammograms and open access to the Breast Care Nursing Team.
“Male breast cancer accounts for around 370 breast cancer cases in the UK every year. I strongly encourage all men to seek GP advice if they notice any changes to their chest.”
The grandfather of one recently had his first mammogram and received the all clear.
Granddaughter Lacey, aged six, proudly calls him ‘granddad one nipple’ when they go swimming after his mastectomy left him without a left nipple.
Darren has set up a Facebook page called Men Too Breast Cancer which has a link to donate.
CMC Motorcycles in Cannock have donated waterproofs and Ma Baker’s Café/Bar in Whitchurch have given a dry suit for the trip.
Amanda Winwood, RWT Charity Development Manager, said: “We’re delighted Darren has made a full recovery and are so pleased to hear he is taking on this challenge and raising awareness of male breast cancer.”
Symptoms of breast cancer in men include:
- a lump in the breast – this is usually hard, painless and does not move around within the breast
- the nipple turning inwards
- fluid oozing from the nipple (nipple discharge), which may be streaked with blood
- a sore or rash around the nipple that does not go away
- the nipple or surrounding skin becoming hard, red or swollen
- small bumps in the armpit (swollen glands)
If you would like to support Darren and help make a difference please donate here Sponsor Me – Online fundraising Service (charitiestrust.org)
Read more via the NHS website