Dance teacher's 19 day cycle for son

A Bolton-le-Sands dance teacher is swapping her tutu for a cycle ride of 1,000 miles after her son was told he may only have 10 years to live.
By The Newsroom
Published 26th May 2016, 13:30 BST

Popular dance teacher Alysia Gilda wants to support the charity who helped her through her son’s battle with blood cancer.

Alysia will power her bike from Lands End to John o’Groats on June 5 to raise funds for the Lymphoma Association.

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Her son Michael was diagnosed with stage four of non Hodgkin lymphoma in February last year.

Lymphoma is the UK’s fifth most common cancer and every 40 minutes another person learns they have it.

Michael discovered a lump in his neck and groin and within four weeks he was placed on chemotherapy treatment.

Alysia said: “It is was one of those bolts out of the blue.

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“I had no knowledge he even went to the doctor but he wanted to be certain before he told me. The doctors said to him at the time he may only have 10 years to live. It was a shock.”

Michael finished his treatment last October and is on a specialist drug for two years which doctors say will keep the cancer away for the time being.

Alysia said: “Everybody at the Lymphoma Association have been brilliant as well as the Lancaster hospital staff, they are amazing.

“It is a watch and wait system, which can be more horrible as some people wait 10 years for the illness to get worse, come back or spread.”

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The dance teacher who owns Alysia Gilda School of Dance, based in St Mary’s Church Hall, Bolton-le-Sands, is a keen cyclist and decided she wanted to take part in a new challenge to help give something back to the charity.

Alysia will set off next weekend with a group for the 19-day ride and aims to ride 60 miles a day.

She said: “I wanted a new challenge to give me piece of mind and to also give something back.

“It is going to be a challenge, battling the elements and insects. My family will come and support me when I pass through Garstang, my daughter Natalie, and my granddaughter Bella, who is four.

“Michael thinks it is a great challenge.”

Alysia says vital funds are needed to give people specialist support they need. To donate towards Alysia’s journey visit www.justgiving.com/Alysia-Gilda.