Jamie Hookham

Oakham Ales distribution supervisor, Jamie Hookham, sadly learned the tragic consequences of undetected ovarian cancer last year when his mother died aged just sixty. He decided that he wanted to raise awareness of the disease as well as for Ovacome, the UK’s only nationwide support group for those affected by ovarian cancer. He is embarking on a four-day, 450 mile bike ride on the 9th July 2011. It will start in Forfar, Scotland and end at the Brewery, based in Peterborough. Oakham Ales have provided Jamie with the bike and the cycling kit and he aims to raise £3,000 for the charity.

“Some 90% of women do not know the symptoms of ovarian cancer, despite it hitting 6,800 women in the UK every year,” says Ovacome’s chief executive Louise Bayne. “We rely on fundraising to help us warn women against the main symptoms of the disease – persistent bloating, eating less and feeling fuller and abdominal pain – because if caught at the earliest stage, patients have a 90% survival rate beyond five years,” she says.

Jamie, aged thirty-four, has worked for Oakham Ales for the past six years and is engaged to be married to his long-term partner. The couple have two children. He says: “Ovacome were so helpful to us last year and supported us through a very difficult time. I don’t think many people know enough about the symptoms of ovarian cancer. I wanted to do something to help raise awareness of the charity and the disease.”

The charity offers its services free of charge to sufferers, family, friends and health professionals. For £20 Ovacome can pay for a place at its annual members’ day in which women can hear about the latest medical advances and meet other women in their position. For £2,500 the charity can pay for a nurse to work on its helpline for a month. £10 allows the charity to send out its information pack to a newly-diagnosed woman.

If you wish to donate to Ovacome or to Jamie’s bike ride you can do so by visting: www.justgiving.com/jamie-hookham. For more information on Ovacome visit http://www.ovacome.org.uk/

For more information on Oakham Ales visit www.oakhamales.com