Friends support pedalling for the pituitary

 

It’s a tiny gland no bigger than a pea, but for its size it’s one of the most important areas in the body.  The chemical messengers or hormones that it controls play a vital role in our health, affecting functions as varied as growth, mood and reproduction.

Pituitary disorders are rare but serious.  When Richard Greetham, a director of Bradleys Estate Agents was diagnosed with a pituitary tumour his colleagues at the firm’s Budleigh office were naturally shocked and upset.  His good friend Robin Burne, pictured above, is a familiar face to many involved in our local property scene. Robin is determined to do his bit and help Richard and his family in any way he can.

“Many people have not heard of this devastating condition, let alone the impact it can have,” says Robin. “To show my support for Richard I ran in Plymouth's Half Marathon on 27 April with other colleagues.  In June I am going to accompany Richard on Days 1 and 2 of his 'Tour De Bradleys' , when he is cycling to all our 33 offices.”

 

The first day of the Charity Bike Ride opens with the stage from Taunton to the Bradleys Head Office in Exmouth on  21 June. The following day will see a ride from Exmouth to Okehampton.  Richard  himself is aiming to complete over 400 miles during the entire ride, which he admits will be a tough challenge.

“I took up cycling a year ago with a view to training for this, and I have been training for a year, but sadly no amount of training can prepare you for some of the climbs and hills that Devon, Cornwall and Somerset can throw at you,” he explained.

“A year ago I was diagnosed with a pituitary tumour, which came as rather a shock, having had a five year period of feeling generally unwell, and struggling really to find out the cause of these feelings. Once the diagnosis had been made, the transition from feeling generally very unwell to complete recovery and feeling normal again was such a relief. I really felt that I had to do something for this unknown condition. The Pituitary Foundation is mainly an information and promotional charity that helps people with pituitary conditions. Its main aim is to raise awareness of the many conditions that are linked to the pituitary gland, which sits just beneath your brain. They are a small charity but do a fantastic job and really need the support and help, so that they are able to help people who have been undiagnosed like I was for many years, and raise awareness of some of the conditions that are linked.”

Bradleys Estate Agents has chosen The Pituitary Foundation as its official charity during 2014, and further challenges for Robin lie ahead with September’s Half Marathon in Bristol and the Exeter Great West Run in October.

Pituitary tumours can be cured, and so far Richard has responded well to treatment.  “We hope that as a company we can raise much needed funds as well as vital awareness of this condition,” says Robin.

Bradleys is a Corporate Friend of Fairlynch and Chairman Roger Sherriff invites all those associated with the Museum to join Robin in helping to support this worthy cause.

For more information, click on http://www.justgiving.com/RobinBurne and http://bradleys.agent.staging.homeflow.co.uk/pages/tour-de-bradleys