A WOMAN from Southall is leading a bike ride from London to Brighton to awareness of ovarian cancer.
Daisy Shinhmar a researcher at the Imperial College London will be leading a convoy of locals this Sunday.
Miss Shinhmar started working at the Gyneacological Oncology Research Team at Imperial College London six months ago.
She will be leading a team of cyclists on a 54-mile trek with funds going to Ovarian Cancer Action.
Miss Shinhmar said: "We all work with various cancer patients, we see tears, struggles. This is why I wanted to do the bike ride. I’m doing for them. I have seen so many women tell me how the symptoms of the cancer are affecting their lives. The treatment doesn’t even work for everyone.
"Our aim is to diagnose women earlier, before the disease grows or becomes too advanced. We also want better treatment and more options for the women affected by the cancer. I come from an Asian background, and I noticed that it is a cultural problem. Cancer is a taboo subject. It is considered as a sin and a form of karma. Unfortunately, people believe in it and they keep the disease to themselves."
"There is also a language barrier, we live in a multicultural society. The hospital has interpreters, and we need to start using those facilities.
"I did a bike ride last year, from London to Brighton, on my own to raise money for the Royal Marsden. A few months before that, I didn’t even know how to ride a bike. But I took a few lessons given by the local council and I managed to do it. Now I’m doing research more focused on ovarian cancer I want to do the bike ride for these women."
