Jackie Cooper riding from London to Paris Fundraising for MIBREAST

Jackie Cooper is taking part in an incredible 309 mile cycling journey that will take her from London to Paris, fundraising for the MIBREAST study at The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. The event is taking part 20-24 July 2022.

Jackie, who is EMEA Category Manager at Henry Schein Dental UK, was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in May 2020. An article was published as part of Walk All Over Cancer 2021 raising awareness and detailing her experience up to that point. 

For this challenge, Jackie will spend a total of four days on her bike and will cycle along an incredible route with up to 250 others. The first part of the journey will be from Croydon to Dover through the Kent countryside. The second day will cover the ride from Calais to Arras through charming villages and along quiet country lanes. The third day features a ride from Arras to Compiègne passing numerous WWI memorials and monuments through the Region of the Somme. The fourth and final day will be the final leg to Paris along the Champs-Élysées, round the Arc de Triomphe and a finish overlooking the Eiffel Tower.

Jackie said: “After the initial shock of being diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2020 and fears of mortality, the second biggest fear for ladies facing a mastectomy is the eventual appearance after surgery. I had the most amazing consultant, Ms Jennifer Rusby, at the Royal Marsden Chelsea who with her caring team guided me though my many surgeries.

“To give back I have paused my treatment to focus on getting my fitness back and plan to ride 309 miles from London to Paris in July to raise money to help make this an easier journey for those ladies who are at the beginning of that journey.”

All the money raised will support the MIBREAST study at The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, which aims to support patients who require a mastectomy as part of their cancer treatment plan. This study will allow patients to have their appearance captured after surgery using a 3D-surface imaging system. These pictures can then be edited to show how a patient might look after reconstructive surgery, which will enable women to make more confident decisions about mastectomy and reconstruction.

To deliver this technology, the hospital will be using a web-based system which will allow the images to be captured on an iPad using a Structure Sensor (an infra-red attachment). This will make it much more mobile and accessible and will have a huge benefit for patients who use the service.

We will keep you updated on how the challenge and fundraising goes. In the meantime, to find out more and donate please visit Jackie’s fundraising page here.