Mounted cop in saddle for charity

Oct 15 2009 by Debbie Hall, West Lothian Courier

A MOUNTED police officer is trading his horse for a bicycle to raise cash for cancer nurses.

Constable Tom Dunnigan’s family has been hit by a series of cancer tragedies and he has decided to back Macmillan Cancer Support.

The policeman’s 44-year-old sister, who lives in Broxburn, was diagnosed with breast cancer in August and underwent a mastectomy two weeks after receiving the news. Just a week later her 45-year-old husband was diagnosed with lymphoma.

Tom’s father, Frank, died 15 years ago after a five-year battle with cancer.

Now Tom, who is originally from Bathgate but now lives in Edinburgh, is preparing to cycle 1000 miles from John O’Groats to Land’s End in March to raise money.

The 38-year-old said he’s looking forward to the journey and has set himself the target of cycling 95 miles each day, over 10 days.

He explained: “My dad was first diagnosed with lung cancer in 1989. It was an ongoing fight for five years, during which he had his left lung removed and chemotherapy.

“At one point he got the all-clear but it came back in his lymph nodes and spread to other areas of his body. He passed away in November 1994, aged 57.

“It was a difficult time for the family as my dad was the life and soul of everything in our lives.”

Tom said as a nurse, his sister was heavily involved in looking after their father, so it was a shock when she herself was diagnosed with cancer.

He added: “About three weeks after her diagnosis, her husband was also diagnosed with lymphoma.

"My sister had to have her breast removed two weeks after being diagnosed, and her treatment, and her husband's, is continuing.

“The disease has had a huge impact on my family and I want to do something to help."

Tom continued: “Unfortunately my family have been affected on too many occasions by cancer but McMillan have been there for us.

Anyone who wants to donate to Tom’s fundraising effort can visit http://original.justgiving.com/thomasdunnigan.