Train drivers take part in rowing challenge in tribute to colleague who died of cancer

Southern Rail staff Richard Brown, Richard Quinn and Gary Harman recently saw a colleague die as a result of cancer, and each has their own story about how they have been affected by the disease.

Richard Quinn, 42, from Brighton, a driver competency developer, said: “One of our colleagues, who was only in his thirties, died recently from cancer, which affected us all.

“And personally, my father, father-in-law and two uncles have all been diagnosed with cancer. Thankfully my dad was successfully treated for colorectal cancer and at 71 is now well.

“Richard, Gary and I wanted to do something to help. We all enjoy endurance events, so we came up with Row for Research, even though I hate rowing.”

The trio managed to cover 325 miles on rowing machines, 25 miles above their original target, in the time given, completing the event in the middle of Brighton Station on Friday and Saturday.

Richard added: “Twenty-four hours non-stop is quite a challenge and I think we all suffered between three and six am. But, once the station opened and people started to arrive, it became easier. We don’t have too many aches and pains, just raw hands.

“However, we were amazed by the amount of support we got. We had so many people telling us inspirational and sometimes sadly, tragic stories about how cancer had affected their lives, but that only pushed us on more.

“They face a bigger and more painful challenge than we did and they don’t have any choice about it.”

Richard Brown, 37, from Brighton, also has close experience with cancer, losing his best friend Elena to non Hodgkins lymphoma two years ago.

The group raised money for Cancer Research UK, ahead of World Cancer Day on February 4.

This is designed to raise awareness of cancer and to promote its prevention, detection and treatment.

They raised nearly £3,500 on their sponsorship page for the charity, and collected a further £1,540 with their bucket collection during the event.