When swimming with her children, she was accidentally kicked in the chest and following this something felt like it wasn’t quite right to Caroline. When she arrived home she decided to get it checked out, and within a week she had begun chemotherapy as her mammogram had revealed a large tumour. Caroline said;

“I do my checks regularly and I genuinely thought I’d be told it was nothing to worry about so my diagnosis was a total shock. Everything happened very quickly as I went through 8 rounds of chemotherapy, followed by a mastectomy and 25 sessions of radiotherapy.

“My friend Staci signed up for Ride the Night because of my illness, and now there is a group of women from my village all taking part. It’s given me something to work towards and inspiration for us all to get fit together, especially as some of the group haven’t ridden a bike in years! I’m now back at work and determined to raise as much as I can for the event charities.”

Ride the Night raises funds for three cancer charities; Breast Cancer Care, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust and Ovarian Cancer Action. Many women who take part in the event, like Caroline, have received direct help from these charities during their own personal cancer journeys. Caroline said;

“Breast Cancer Care were a real lifeline for me at a time when I felt incredibly lonely. As an oncologist by trade I didn’t feel able to attend support groups as I worried that once people knew what my job was, I would no longer be just another patient. My parents live in Canada and I had two young children I had to try very hard not to let my illness affect.

“One day when everyone was out of the house I found I couldn’t stop crying, so I called Breast Cancer Care. They were fantastic, and through their Someone Like Me service they put me in touch with a lady called Sarah. As a GP around the same age, Sarah was going through the same thing as myself and understood how I was feeling.

“Breast Cancer Care was also fantastic with my children. One of the books they provided for children is one I still find tucked down the side of my eldest’s bed as she reads it all the time. When she sent them £40 she raised in a bake sale, they sent a lovely personal letter back to her to say thank you and I thought that was a lovely way to support my family further!”

Steve Grogan, Sporting & Challenge Event Manager at Breast Cancer Care said;

“We’re so grateful to Caroline for taking on Women V Cancer Ride the Night and wish her the best of luck. The money Caroline raises will help us provide care, support and information to help thousands of people to find a way to live with, through and beyond breast cancer.

“It’s vital that Breast Cancer Care’s services remain free; they’re a lifeline to people diagnosed with breast cancer. With support from fabulous fundraisers like Caroline, we can be there for more people whenever they need us.”

If you would like to support Caroline, and her team the Desford Hells Angels, her JustGiving page can be found at: www.justgiving.com/carolinehumber

Now in its fourth year, Women V Cancer Ride the Night unites women raising awareness and hope for a cure. To date the event has raised over £3 million, and with the help of brave women like Caroline they are hoping for their most successful year yet.

To join the thousands of women putting the brakes on cancer, visit ridethenight.co.uk and enter now.

You can keep up to date with the event through Twitter: @RideTheNightUK and Facebook: ‘Women V Cancer Ride the Night’