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Wheels in motion for cancer fundraiser

Staff ReporterStirling Times

Led by organiser and Karrinyup resident Jeremy Watkins, the riders will travel from Perth to Margaret River in two days, with the aim to encourage more men to be checked for the disease.

It is the third time Mr Watkins has organised the charity ride, after starting the event in 2012 when his father-in-law was diagnosed with inoperable prostate cancer.

Joining him for the first time this year is his wife Sarah-Jane and brother-in-law Malcolm Brown, who were inspired to take the journey after their father, Alan Brown, passed away earlier this year.

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Mrs Watkins said her father’s battle with the disease had prompted a family friend to be checked.

‘While he had no symptoms, they found evidence of the disease and were able to do surgery,’ she said.

‘They caught it early. Hopefully the ride encourages more men to be checked and catch the disease in the early stages.’

Mr Watkins said the ride first started with 10 cyclists, increasing to 100 this year and 800 by 2017.

‘For the first time a small group of us who knew Alan are riding back to Perth in one day,’ he said.

‘We were blessed to have Alan as support crew for our first two events, and we are motivated more than ever to get the message out there.’