FUNDRAISING FOR A CURE
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PLANETS Cancer Charity has announced the return of its legendary ‘London to Paris in 24 hours’ cycle challenge to mark the 10-year anniversary of the event that first captured hearts in 2016.
The 2026 edition – LP24 – will take place from 3 to 5 July 2026, with riders tackling an epic 320km route between the two cities in just 24 hours. The event will unite patients, clinicians, supporters and cycling enthusiasts in a physically demanding but hugely rewarding fundraising challenge.
In 2016, 58 riders took part in the original LP24, with 50 completing the full distance and a further eight in a patient/medics relay averaging over 200km each.
Together they raised more than £65,000, putting University Hospital Southampton at the forefront of advanced surgical oncology by securing enough money to pay for six instalments towards a revolutionary mobile machine to deliver radiotherapy during surgery, known as intraoperative radiotherapy.
The dedicated fundraising campaign was completed in October 2022, enabling the charity to complete the £1 million purchase of the equipment, known as Mobetron.
Reflecting on the first LP24, Tom Armstrong, consultant surgeon at UHS and a participant, said: “I loved the camaraderie that developed among the cyclists and support team. It got us there exhausted but safe and together. This challenge was truly inspirational and is reflected in the huge amount of money raised.”
Cyclist Colin Zaczyk, who is a long-term supporter of PLANETS and recently raised more than £11,000 in an individual cycling challenge, participated in the 2016 event. He said: “When you see patients and their surgeons unite for the same cause, it creates something very powerful.
“The sacrifice by all the riders and the extraordinary support team made the effort worthwhile – I felt part of something very special, part of the PLANETS family.”
Looking ahead to the 2026 ride, Neil Pearce, retired surgeon and chairman and co-founder of PLANETS, said: “We have come such a long way as a charity since the previous LP24, and it is the people who have been with us and supported us throughout that have made all our achievements – purchasing Mobetron and raising more than £2.5 million in total so far – possible.
“As we saw last time round, this will be another extraordinary event and we are really excited about both the build-up to the event and the challenge itself.”
For 2026, organisers promise something even more special. The event is open not only to seasoned cyclists but also to volunteers and support crew:
- Riders – take on the London to Paris challenge in just 24 hours
- Volunteers – staff food stops, cheer riders on and help with logistics
- Support vehicles – transport equipment, provide roadside help and keep the event moving smoothly.
The charity is also looking for business sponsors to help fund supplies and equipment.
“LP24 is more than just a bike ride – it’s a family of patients, clinicians and supporters coming together to do something extraordinary,” said Jo Green, director of operations and marketing at PLANETS.
“We can’t wait to celebrate this milestone and create another unforgettable moment in our charity’s history.”
Spaces for riders are limited and early interest is already high. Anyone wishing to ride, volunteer or join the support crew can register their interest now at https://planetscharity.org/event/lp24/.
PLANETS helps patients with pancreatic, liver, colorectal, abdominal (oesophageal and gastric) and neuroendocrine cancer.
It aims to raise another £1.5 million over the next five years for a range of projects including additional support for cancer patients, pioneering techniques to treat the disease and research to help find better ways of targeting and fighting cancer cells.
READ ABOUT HOW FUNDS ARE USED
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PLANETS Funds New Wellbeing Room for Liver Ward at UHS
PLANETS funds new wellbeing room for liver patients at University Hospital Southampton A new wellbeing room funded by PLANETS Cancer Charity has been opened for patients with liver diseases at University Hospital Southampton. The facility, located on the gastroenterology and hepatology ward, provides a quiet space for patients and a place for private conversations which […]
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PLANETS funds novel 3D printed livers to aid complex surgery
Surgeons in Southampton are the first in the UK to begin using 3D printed models of patients’ livers to help them perform a complex cancer operation. Converting the data available from CT and MRI scans of patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma – a type of bile duct cancer – into 3D models will enable better planning […]
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PLANETS Charity Welcome Coach Alison Bailey to their Support Team
Here at PLANETS we understand how daunting a cancer diagnosis can be. We know firsthand the transformative power of support throughout the cancer journey and have experienced ourselves the highs and lows, the triumphs and setbacks and the profound impact they can have on your life. We are very happy to be welcoming Alison Bailey, […]
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PLANETS completes £1 million fundraising campaign to purchase pioneering radiotherapy machine
PLANETS has thanked its supporters after completing a £1 million fundraising campaign and making the final payment for a pioneering radiotherapy machine. PLANETS Cancer Charity has been fundraising for the past six years to fully purchase Mobetron, a revolutionary mobile device which delivers radiotherapy during surgery – known as intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT). When the charity […]
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PLANETS Receive £10,000 Grant from The Hospital Saturday Fund
Thank you to John Greenwood, Trustee of the The Hospital Saturday Fund, for visiting us on Monday and bringing this incredible grant of £10,000 to support our IORT (Intra Operative Radiotherapy) machine. This will enable us to continue delivering this lifesaving treatment at University Hospital Southampton – the only centre in the UK currently offering […]
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PLANETS Fund ‘New View’ Psychotherapy Course for NET Patients
PLANETS have funded a psychotherapy programme, after a successful pilot course, to help NET patients see their diagnosis in a ‘new view’. We all know that different people deal with their neuroendocrine cancer diagnosis very differently. Initially there are lots of scary tests and Doctor appointments. Then there are lots of talk about […]
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Head and Neck Cancer Patient Treated with IORT in UK First
A woman from Salisbury has become the first patient in the UK with head and neck cancer to receive radiotherapy in the operating theatre during surgery to remove a recurrent tumour. Jayne Garrett, 53, underwent major surgery at University Hospital Southampton on 25 April after suffering a recurrence of her cancer following conventional treatment […]
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PLANETS Host the 1st National IORT Symposium
It was an honour to present the fantastic work and great initial results to medics from all over the country at our 1st National IORT (intra-operative radiotherapy) Symposium on Friday June 21st at University Hospital Southampton. After a lot of hard work and fundraising in order to bring IORT to the UK for the […]
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PLANETS Cancer Charity and the Robert White Trust, Fund a new regional NET Cancer Dietitian
A dietitian funded by PLANETS Cancer Charity and the Robert White Trust Fund is due to start work to develop and provide a comprehensive dietetic service to patients diagnosed with Neuroendocrine Cancer (NETs). Ruth Lee will be based at the Dorset NET service, which is part of the Wessex European Neuroendocrine tumour society centre […]
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Southampton Secure £200k from The Robert White Trust for NETs Research
PLANETS are excited to share the news that University Hospital Southampton have secured £200,000 funding from the Robert White Trust for a research project that aims to gain a better understanding of NET biology which may lead to a greater range of treatment options for patients with this rare disease. Robert White was a former […]
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Bowel cancer patient becomes first in UK to be treated with IORT
We are thrilled and proud to update our supporters that a Southampton bowel cancer patient has become the first in the UK to receive radiotherapy during surgery using the IORT machine that PLANETS has funded. he 58-year-old male, who completed a combination of conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy in August, underwent major surgery at Southampton […]
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IORT Launch is a Success!
SOUTHAMPTON CLINICIANS PIONEER USE OF REVOLUTIONARY CANCER DEVICE PLANETS founders Neil Pearce and Brian Stedman, together with fund manager Layla Stephen successfully launched our long awaited IORT machine last night. The Mobetron is the first portable system able to administer the treatment in this way – known as intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) – and will […]
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IORT Arrives at Southampton!
PLANETS are thrilled to announce that the eagle (finally) has landed! 2 tons of intra-operative radio-therapy machine (IORT) arrived from the USA this week – currently undergoing acceptance testing. This is the UK’s first ever mobile electron beam radiotherapy machine for treating cancers during surgery. Thanks to everyone who has supported our fundraising which has […]
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Southampton Aiding Research into Earlier Diagnosis for Pancreatic Cancer
You may have notice that Southampton was mentioned in recent media stories regarding The National Tumour Bank that is carrying out important pancreatic cancer research? Colin Johnson, Professor of Surgical Sciences at University of Southampton, has this to say about the project: ‘The National Tissue Bank is a major development in pancreatic cancer research. Several […]
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Sainsbury’s Hedge End Donate Digital Radios
A big thank you to Sainsbury’s Hedge End for donating two digital radios to PLANETS to be used in the lead lined Gamma Scanner Rooms at Southampton General. Pictured presenting the radios to staff in the scanner rooms are PLANETS Fund Manager, Layla Stephen, and Dr Brian Stedman.
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PLANETS to Fund Pancreatic Cancer Research at Southampton
PLANETS Charitable Fund are excited to have committed to provide a grant over a two year period for a pancreatic research project: ́The role of Eps8 in αvβ6-dependent functions in pancreatic cancer invasion’ to be undertaken by Dr Jo Tod. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PC) has one of the worst outcomes of any cancer; only 3.7% of patients […]
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First Patient Receives PRRT at Southampton thanks to PLANETS
[social_button button=”facebook” flayout=”standard ” fwidth=”450″ faction=”like” fcolorsheme=”light”] UHS magazine Connect featured a fantastic article about NET patient Maureen McKenzie who, in July 2013, became the first Southampton patient to receive PRRT (peptide receptor radionuclide therapy). The equipment for this treatment was jointly funded by UHS and PLANETS showing just how important and valuable the […]
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Improving Patient Services Across the Region
[social_button button=”facebook” flayout=”standard ” fwidth=”450″ faction=”like” fcolorsheme=”light”] Pancreatic cancer affects over 8000 patients each year in the uk and remains the fifth biggest cancer killer in the UK, despite this its has been underfunded for many years and currently receives just 1% of total cancer research funding in the UK. NETs are a rare form […]
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