Cycle tribute to Sam

A leading academic is taking on a major cycling challenge in memory of a Newark teenager.

The vice-chancellor of The University of Nottingham, Professor David Greenaway, is part of a team of 15 tackling the Life Cycle 4 challenge in support of the university’s Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre (CBTRC).

Each cyclist is riding in the name of a patient who has battled a tumour.

Professsor Greenaway is doing it in memory Sam White, who died in September aged 16.

The route of more than 1,400 miles takes in the four corners of Great Britain.

The riders will leave Land’s End on August 14 and cycle, via Dover and Durness, to John O’Groats for August 30.

Professor Greenaway said: “Any premature death is a tragedy but as a parent myself I cannot begin to imagine what it feels like to learn your child is suffering from a life-threatening disease.

“I have been privileged to meet some of the patients being treated by our team and their families and I have been struck by their tremendous bravery and dignity when faced with the most difficult of circumstances.

“One remarkable young man, Sam White, sticks out in my mind. Sam was diagnosed with a brain tumour at the age of 12 and responded by being determined to live life to the full and do all he could to raise awareness of the disease.

“Shortly after Sam died, his mother wrote to ask me to raise funds for Children’s Brain Tumour Research, so this year I will be cycling in honour of Sam to do what I can to help young people like him and their families in the future.”

Sam’s mother, Mrs Pam White, said: “Sam was realistic and saw that others just didn’t get the impact of a brain tumour on your life.

“He worked hard on enlightening and raising awareness in as many people as possible, using his charm and natural ability to engage with people.

“We always said that those who met Sam took a little bit of him away with them in their hearts so he will never be forgotten.

“He had given us his expectation that if he was no longer here we should continue raising awareness about brain tumours, because if we didn’t what was the point in all he was doing?

“We know Sam would be honoured and delighted to think that the vice-chancellor is doing this.”

Mrs White and her husband, Sam’s father, Mr Mike White, have presented Professor Greenaway with £12,000 for the research centre raised at a gala night in Sam’s honour.

For more information on the challenge visit the Life Cycle 4 website. To see a video of the vice-chancellor talking about Sam and an interview with Sam himself, go to www.nottingham.ac.uk/lifecycle