Newtownabbey woman leads Pedal the Periphery charity cycle in aid of Northern Ireland Pancreatic Cancer group

Ruth Murphy, who lives in Newtownabbey and works for Beaumont Care Homes, will be team captain in Pedal the Periphery - a major fundraiser taking place this June, organised by Northern Ireland Pancreatic Cancer (NIPANC).

The challenge will see 20+ teams from across NI cycle the full perimeter of the country in just 48 hours.

The cause is particularly close to the hearts of Ruth and her teammates. Their team name – The Beaumont Roykets – is a heartfelt tribute to Roy McLaughlin, the late husband of Susan

McLaughlin, Ruth’s close colleague and Care Quality Manager at Beaumont Care Homes.

Susan lost her first husband, Colin Cooke, to pancreatic cancer - a loss that led her to become a founding member of NIPANC. Her second husband, Roy, who sadly passed away late last year, stood proudly by her side through all her work with the charity and was equally devoted to the charity’s mission.

“We’re doing this for Roy, for Susan, and for everyone affected by this cruel disease,” said Ruth. “We’re not professional cyclists - we’re carers, nurses, managers and admin staff - but we’re giving it our all because we’ve seen the devastating impact of pancreatic cancer up close.”

“NI has one of the worst five-year survival rates in the world, so it’s vital that we raise both awareness and funds to help change that.”

Each member of the Beaumont Roykets team will cycle up to 48 miles, collectively covering the full 480-mile route. With a timeline of 48 hours, they’ll have to cycle around the clock to complete the challenge.

Ruth and her team are already training hard – and urging the local community to back them at https://nipanc.enthuse.com/pf/the-beaumont-roykets

Pancreatic cancer receives five times less funding than many other common cancers, and is often diagnosed far too late for treatment to be effective.

Shockingly, three out of five patients could have had life-saving surgery if their cancer had been detected earlier. That’s why Pedal the Periphery is about more than just fundraising — it’s about shining a light on a disease that’s severely underfunded in NI, raising awareness, and helping people recognise the symptoms before it’s too late.