Renfrewshire blood cancer patient taking on a coast-to-coast cycling challenge for charity
When Robert Howat told his wife Suzanne he planned to cycle 250 miles across Scotland just months after being diagnosed with blood cancer, she thought he was 'nuts'.
A Renfrewshire blood cancer patient is set to take on a coast-to-coast cycling challenge for charity.
This June, Robert Howat and two friends will set off on a coast-to-coast cycling challenge from Stranraer in Wigtownshire to Eyemouth, Berwickshire, all to raise money and awareness for Blood Cancer UK.
And when the 50-year-old told his wife Suzanne he planned to cycle 250 miles across Scotland just months after being diagnosed with blood cancer, she thought he was 'nuts'.
Robert, from Kilbarchan, was diagnosed with a form of blood cancer, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) in 2024.
'I was quite fatigued, quite a lot of the time, me being me, I didn't tell anybody I wasn't feeling great,' Robert explained.
'I didn't want to feel embarrassed; I'd fall asleep sitting on the couch, I was dizzy all the time, and out of breath. My wife is a nurse practitioner, she took my stats, she didn't understand how I was still standing!'
CLL is a slow-growing type of blood cancer that affects white blood cells and can often go unnoticed until it reaches a more advanced stage.
Diagnosed while on oxygen in the hospital after a week, Robert admits his blood cancer diagnosis has been a shock for the family.
He said: 'It's been a shock for the family, but I'm still trying to process why it's happened. I did everything right, I'm fit and healthy, I don't smoke, yet I've been dealt this hand.'
Despite the shock, Robert's response is to carry on and be optimistic.
He explained: 'When I got the diagnosis, I thought, 'What can I do to show people you can still live fully and help others while you're at it?' I'm on watch and wait, so I go in for check-ups every few months, and I want to show people what you can do with a blood cancer.'
As a former police officer now working at Glasgow Airport, Robert is to take on an endurance challenge that would test even the fittest riders.
Yet Robert's diagnosis of a blood cancer does mean that he's not able to train as much as he'd like.
'I have to be careful, CLL affects your immune system, so I need to avoid infection and balance exercise with recovery. I can't train like I used to,' he said.
The 250-mile ride will take place over two days and include hills, wind, rain, and midges but Robert is looking forward to it.
Setting off from Stranraer, the first day will take them to Newcastleton before the final leg to Eyemouth the next day.
He's not doing it alone – he'll be joined by friends and fellow cyclists and supported by family and friends. His wife, Suzanne, despite calling the challenge 'mad', will be cheering from the sidelines, along with their daughters Eve and Adeline.
Robert added: 'When I was well in the past I've run marathons, done tough mudders, and long bike rides but this is different. This one means more. I'm doing it show people you can still live with a cancer diagnosis.'
The fundraising campaign has already began with over £1,000 coming into his JustGiving page. You can donate online by visiting www.justgiving.com/page/robert-bell-howat-coast-to-coast-cycle
Speaking about the challenge, Mairead Macleod, Blood Cancer UK's Scotland fundraising manager, said: 'Having a chronic leukaemia, a blood cancer, can be hard enough to navigate, and it's incredible Robert is still able to push himself to raise awareness and funds for Blood Cancer UK.
'Blood cancer is the UK's fifth most common blood cancer. It's because of the determination of people like Robert, we are able to fund more research into the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of blood cancers.
'He's pedalling us closer to the day where we beat blood cancer for good.'
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