AN inspirational Hagley woman who has raised £125,000 for a charity close to her heart while fighting back from cancer has set herself another monumental fundraising challenge.

Deb Gascoyne, who was just 34 when she discovered she had myeloma - an incurable blood cancer, has defied the odds to stay alive and well and astounded friends and family by her dedication to raising funds along the way for Myeloma UK - which helps people battling the disease.

Mum-of-two Deb was given a life expectancy of just two to five years from her diagnosis in 2009 but thanks to successful chemotherapy treatment and a stem cell transplant in 2011 - she enjoyed eight years in remission.

She suffered a relapse in 2019 but underwent a second successful transplant in September 2020 - and to help keep her focussed and get fit while on the road to recovery she has signed up for the Myeloma UK London to Paris bike ride 2021 taking place in September.

She said of the ambitious 5,000km challenge: "I'm not a cyclist and this will be a big ask of me, especially since I only had my stem cell transplant in September 2020, but I would really like to challenge myself to do this.

"The ride is over 300 miles over four days, and I plan to do it on an ebike."

The money raised in sponsorship will contribute to Deb's #50KB450 challenge to raise more than £50,000 before she turns 50 in January 2025.

She said: "I'm hoping to raise at least £5,000 from this cycle.

"None of this fundraising will go to costs which are covered separately so every penny raised will go to Myeloma UK."

Deb, aged 46, says she's determined to raise greater awareness of the charity and its achievements.

She credits the organisation for its work to urge NICE to permit use of the drug lenalidomide which Deb took as a trial and believes it gave her nearly eight years in remission. She added: "Thanks to Myeloma UK, that drug will be available to other patients after transplant."

She said funds raised for the charity will ensure it can continue its campaigning and research to help support patients with myeloma. That's why she's set herself a target to raise more than £50,000 - in addition to the £125,000 raised previously.

To date Deb and her friends have organised a number of events to help raise money towards her #50KB450.

There have been quiz nights, dinner parties, body combat sessions and friends have completed cycling and running events - to raise more than £23,000 of the £50,000 target.

To give the fundraising a boost Deb's 14-year-old son Sam, a student at Haybridge High School, has also set himself the task of completing 15 fundraising events before his 15th birthday (#15B415).

An auction held in March has raised £1,800 and to date he has raised nearly £6,000 on his online donation page - justgiving.com/15B415. He's also got another auction planned, a cake sale and a raffle in the summer ahead of his 15th birthday in August.

Deb, who has been training with Stourbug cycling club to get set for her challenge, says she's been lucky to have support from friends for the costs of the ride plus a generous discount from Tredz Bikes towards her bike, and clothing and accessories donated by Madison.

Doing well after her second transplant, Deb says she's expecting to be in good shape for the ride which starts on September 16. In the unlikely event she's unable to take part, she will complete the miles locally or on an indoor bike. She says she would also do her best to get a friend or relative take her place in the official event.

If anyone would like to sponsor Deb, they can do so online at justgiving.com/londontoparis50KB450, or if any bike companies would like to donate equipment, support or clothing, people can contact her by emailing gascoynedeb@gmail.com. Deb would also love to hear from anyone who might like to hold an event as part of her #50KB450.