RNRMCA Rider out in front in Pink

RNRMCA regular MTB competitor Rob Smith takes on the challenge of the 2010 racing season in a new shirt. To find out why Rob is in the pink read the full article....

ROYAL NAVY RESERVIST RIDES OUT IN PINK

A Royal Navy Reservist will be doing his bit to raise awareness of breast cancer by taking to the saddle in a pink cycling top.

Petty Officer Rob Smith, aged 38, is a member of the Royal Navy and Royal Marine Cycling Association (RNRMCA).  This year he is scheduled to take part in a number of national and regional mountain bike races and endurance events, and will ride out wearing a specially made pink RNRMCA racing top instead of the normal red, blue and white.  PO Smith was inspired to wear the jersey after his wife Jane, aged 42, and a colleague from HMS Raleigh, Petty Officer Laura Washer, aged 31, were both diagnosed with breast cancer.

PO Smith said:  “Most people have their own favourite charity so rather than pass round a sponsor form I thought I would do something to raise awareness of breast cancer and how important it is that everyone checks themselves regularly.  Jane noticed her lump whilst trying on cycling kit so there’s a cycling link there too and if my riding around in a pink top prompts someone to ask the question or look a bit further then I’ll be happy.  There’s a perception that breast cancer only affects the over fifties but as you can see with Jane and Laura that isn’t the case, so I'm also hoping that my pink top will help raise awareness among the younger age group”

Jane, a nurse, is currently undergoing treatment at Derriford Hospital. She said:  "The support received from everyone at Derriford’s Primrose breast care unit and the Mustard Tree MacMillian Support Centre has been excellent. I am constantly being told that being brave enough to act on what I found in the changing room has given me an excellent chance of survival so if Rob in pink and my story encourages just one person to go and get checked out it’ll be worth it.  Cycling has always been a social sport and it has been something we have been doing together for some time, so to use it as a way to raise awareness seem the logical thing to do.  Everyone has come together to support me and Rob. The guys from team Certini and the other members of the RNRMC have been there offering support and encouragement to Rob's efforts to train and race."

PO Smith is a member of the Plymouth Royal Navy Reservist Unit, HMS Vivid, and deployed to Afghanistan in 2006.   In civilian life he works as an administrator, employed by VT Flagship to work at the Defence Maritime Logistics School based at HMS Raleigh.

A keen cyclist, PO Smith took up the sport in 2005.  In previous years he has competed at numerous regional events but this year has taken things a little more seriously and has been training throughout the winter with one of the UK's elite female mountain bike racers, Maddie Horton of fullysussed.co.uk.  PO Smith is scheduled to take part in the five round British National Mountain Bike Series, the Fully Sussed South West Regional Championships, the Royal Navy and Royal Marine championships as well as the Bristol Bike Fest 12 hour Enduro, the Mountain Mayhem 24 hour Enduro and the Twentyfour12 where he will be riding solo for 12 hours.

PO Smith said:  "My aim for this year is to finish in the top 50 in the National Masters Competition and in the top twenty in the South West at cross country racing.  I also hope to do the best I can at the endurance events.  At each event I'll be scoring points for the RNRMCA as part of the Combined Service Championships, so I'll also be able to see where I stack up amongst cyclists from across the Armed Forces."

PO Smith's pink top had it's first outing at the opening round of the National Series in Sherwood Forest last weekend (27/28 March), when he came 49th out of 75 in the Masters.   A result he is justifiable proud of.