ALL THAT MATTERS
Chris knows better than most how life can change in the blink of an eye.
In elite sport, the margin between victory and defeat is miniscule, and the pressure is immense. Chris has built a glittering sporting career on understanding these moments: how to feel for them, how to cope with them, how to make them count.
Last year, he faced another life-changing moment. He found out that the ache in his shoulder was in fact a tumour, and that he had Stage 4 cancer.
He will be living with this disease for the rest of his life.
In this memoir, Chris shares the next phase of his extraordinary life with exceptional bravery. He looks over the challenges he has faced thus far, and the ways he has taken them on. With his wife Sarra and their young children by his side, he shares how he has used these experiences to find ways to focus on the moments that matter, showing us how to do the same.
TOUR DE 4
“ I mention in ALL THAT MATTERS that I want to shine a light on Stage 4 cancer, hence the emergence of what I hope will be my own annual fundraising charity bike ride, the Tour de 4.
My dream is to get as many people as possible who are living with Stage 4 cancer, as well as their friends and families, to participate with me to whatever extent they can manage, raising money for the cancer charities that mean the most to them.
Tour de 4 is still very much a work in progress but the basic concept is a summer bike ride, hopefully from the velodrome with my name on it in Glasgow to Edinburgh where I was born and grew up. My dream is to get as many people as possible living with Stage 4 cancer, as well as their friends and families, to participate with me to whatever extent they can manage, raising money for the cancer charities that mean the most to them.
In particular though, I want to shine a spotlight on what a Stage 4 cancer diagnosis can look like. I want to demonstrate, along with many others, that it is possible to live well and lead a happy life alongside this devastating diagnosis.
I fully expect to get my family and all manner of friends involved – cyclists and non-cyclists! If you are interested in getting involved or would like to hear more as this project develops, please get in touch: hello@tgisport.com.
I’m excited about the potential of this event and the work we can collectively do to help raise awareness of living with Stage 4 cancer and, crucially, the vital funds we will hopefully raise to help support the research and great work that is being done to tackle this global pandemic head on. I know there is not a cure for me but, with science moving so fast, I hope that we can protect our children and the next generation. ”
FAQs
I have Stage 4 prostate cancer and I will be living with it for the rest of my life. I currently feel well and I’m continuing to enjoy cycling, work and spending time with my family. I am so grateful to everyone for their kindness and their support.
A serious cancer diagnosis is not the news anyone imagines hearing, and it obviously came as a huge shock. We have taken the time to process it as a family and I now have a deep resolve to turn this incredibly difficult diagnosis into something positive. ALL THAT MATTERS is my opportunity to offer insight into how a family deals with a diagnosis like mine and hopefully inspire others who are on a difficult journey to find a way back to living a good, hopeful life.
I share some stories I’ve never shared before about my family, the hurdles we have overcome to get to this point, and the challenges we continue to face every day. I also give you a view into what my life has been like since retiring as a professional racer; it also involves a love of fast cars!
Hope is a powerful thing, as is being present. I have a new appreciation for both, and I am so grateful for my family and their love as we face into this hugely challenging time together. Writing this book has allowed me to reflect on how important it is to be hopeful and focus on the present – both for me and for my family.
ALL THAT MATTERS is available from all good bookshops, online and in audio read by me, from 7th November, from Hodder & Stoughton.
I mention in ALL THAT MATTERS that I want to shine a light on Stage 4 cancer, hence the emergence of what I hope will be my own annual fundraising charity bike ride, the Tour de 4. You can read a little about this on my website and you will be hearing a lot more about my plans very soon!
I am currently taking a break with my family and have nothing further to add at this time. I will be doing limited media appearances around the publication of ALL THAT MATTERS in November. Please contact Rebecca.Mundy@hodder.co.uk or Francesca.Russell@hodder.co.uk for more information.
If you would like to share your stories of positivity and survival in the face of Stage 4, or the memories of a loved one please share here.
Prostate Cancer UK www.prostatecanceruk.org
In addition to information and advice, Prostate Cancer UK offers an online community and support group where you can talk to others with prostate cancer.
They also have a helpline run by specialist nurses you can call on: 0800 074 8383 and there is an online risk checker where you can check your risk in just 30 seconds and seek advice.
MS Society www.mssociety.org.uk
MS Society offers a mix of paid staff and volunteers, MS nurses and other experts.
Helpline: 0808 800 8000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 7pm)