When you come as close to death as cancer survivor Adam Alderson you appreciate the value of life all the more.
Told there was nothing more doctors could do, Adam, from Preston-under-Scar, near Leyburn, refused to give in after being diagnosed with pseudomyxoma peritonei – PMP for short – a very rare form of cancer that grows inside the abdominal cavity and will crush and destroy the organs unless treated or removed.
Instead, he fought the disease and, with the help of a team of medics who performed a ground-breaking multi-organ transplant operation, he won.
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That is one of the reasons the 37-year-old is preparing for an incredible adventure this summer.
Together with new wife Laura and friends Andy Smithson and Liz Sheldon, Adam will leave Leyburn on July 14 to take part in the Mongol Rally – 10,000-mile trip from the UK to Mongolia in cheap car – two old Suzuki Jimny 4x4s – and with no chance of rescue if it all goes wrong.
Adam is still recovering, meaning the trip is all the more dangerous and back up Dave Yates will be powerless to help if the worst does happen. He is having to take his own trauma medical kit and the team, who call themselves the Yorkshire Yaks, have had medical training from Yorkshire Ambulance Service.
They have also undergone hostile environment training as their route will take them through some of the world’s most volatile countries.
So why is Adam doing it?
“I wanted to do the trip after my dad died but was never able to due to work commitments etc,” he says.
“But it was when I was lying in the hospital that I decided I would do it – I want to push myself as far as I can.
“A lot of people say I’m mad but that just makes me want to do it more.
“It’s going to be hard. There are days when I feel horrible. I just want to lay on the sofa and shut the curtains but I won’t be able to do that when we are travelling. I will just have to ride it out.”
Adam and Laura are funding the trip themselves but have received sponsorship from local and national companies including Leyburn-based Truck Technics, which have helped prepare the vehicles, Metcalfe Farms, Ring Automotive, Davanti Tyres, and DG & M Construction, which are paying for the vehicles’ fuel.
Adam has also received help from other local businesses such as Fitness4All gym at Leyburn which is helping Adam build his fitness levels ahead of the trip.
This means all donations to their appeal will go to the two charities, The Steve Prescott Foundation and Macmillan Cancer Support.
The foundation was started by rugby league star Steve Prescott who eventually died from PMP.
Adam says he would not be alive today if it were not for Steve who helped him and led the way for sufferers of this type of cancer.
Adam was one of the first people to have the multi-organ transplant for this type of cancer and survive. He is now determined that as many people as possible have access to the same kind of help.
To sponsor Adam, visit www.yorkshireyaks.co.uk
To follow his adventure visit www.facebook.com/YorkshireYaks/
Adam and the Yorkshire Yaks team will be leaving Leyburn Market Square at 11am on Friday. Everyone is welcome to give them a big send off.
