Research Update - March 2018
Set up by a team of cycling enthusiasts, all of whom have lost a family member or a friend to cancer, Bike 4 Cancer provides days respite breaks for British families affected by cancer.
We also make grants to UK based care institutions and fund research into the positive effects of exercise (e.g. cycling) and how it can help with cancer prevention and recovery.
On 5th October 2017 Oliver Thurlow joined the '4 Cancer Group' as its chief researcher.
Oliver's primary focus is to quantify the impact of the charity's various respite programmes which range from days out to longer short-breaks for families affected by cancer.
The research project will be led by the University of Brighton in partnership with the 4 Cancer Group as part of a jointly funded PhD programme. The four-year study was initiated in late 2017.
Given the 4 Cancer Group's sporting focus, with subsidiaries focused on sailing, skiing, running and cycling, Oliver is also tasked with quantifying the physical health benefits of the charity's various fundraising and respite activities.
We caught up with Oliver to find out what he has been up to so far!
What you have seen so far?
As I am currently waiting for my studies to commence, I have devoted a significant amount of time to get to know the people at the charity who make everything tick, so to speak. It is incredible to see the amount of effort that each employee/volunteer puts in on a daily basis. All the team work tirelessly to ensure that the services the charity provide are functioning efficiently and smoothly.
You were on the Radio. What was it like?
It was a fantastic opportunity to use the radio as a platform to talk about the type of work that the charity does. Also, it was the perfect chance to discuss the collaboration that is developing between the '4 Cancer Group' and the University of Brighton. I wanted to use that time to talk about how research such as this can have a real impact on both a charity's services but also academic research on health and well-being.
What sports do you participate in?
I have always participated in team sports such as football and rugby, as well as individual endurance events like long-distance running or trekking. As a result, I have always been interested in the physical and psychological benefits of an active lifestyle. There is a clear link between health and exercise which is why the work of charities like the 4 Cancer Group is so important.
How are you approaching your research study?
Any doctoral research programme requires rigour and ethics. At the University of Brighton, I have recently submitted a tier-two research ethics application to the school of life, health, and physical sciences ethics committee for feedback and approval. The application ensures that I am aware of the dignity, rights, safety, and well-being of the participants that are going to be participating in the research project. Moreover, the application includes documents such as informed consent forms, participant information sheets, risk assessment forms and specific information regarding the research approach/methods.
We look forward to the next update on this exciting piece of research.
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