Cyclists in orange Y-fronts on the streets of Devon

A brave group of 18 cyclists will ride 300 miles in 3 days in aid of testicular cancer on a route that goes through North Devon, Somerset, North Somerset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire

This mammoth charity cycling tour raises awareness and much needed funds to support the work of It’s in the Bag Cancer Support, the only Testicular Cancer Charity in the South West of England. It also celebrates the charity’s 10th birthday this year.

Le Tour de Balls first took place in 2016 and was the brainchild of Sue Brand (founder of It’s in the Bag) and Will King a submariner from Bristol, who was diagnosed with Testicular Cancer in 2013.

The tour has taken place every three years and this is the fourth tour, hence the name Le Tour de Balls Quatre.

A team of 18 cyclists will ride 300 miles in three days, starting on Saturday, May 3 at The Slipway at Westward Ho! North Devon and finishing on Monday, May 5 at The Globe Inn, Frampton Cotterell for a huge party, with support from landlord Lloyd Williams and music from Darren Sims.

On the way the tour, also known as The Big Birthday Tour, will travel from North Devon, through Somerset, North Somerset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.

Organiser Sue Brand said: “Big Birthday year and Big Birthday Tour and why not? We are so lucky to have such brave and determined supporters who are kind enough to take on the challenge.

“This year our team is 18 strong and includes a few men who have taken part in every tour since 2016.”

The team is made up of men and women from different places, backgrounds and reasons for doing this. Some of the riders, like Rob Kay who also took part in 2019 and 2022, have been affected by testicular cancer.

Rob said: “I had testicular cancer in 2017 and I can’t thank It’s in the Bag enough for the support they gave me. In the 2019 tour I had an epic crash on the first day resulting in a bent wheel, a puncture wound and a trip to hospital (I missed lunch!).

“Thankfully our NHS heroes patched me up and I finished the day on the bike. I also ‘won’ Le Tour De Balls II because I took a wrong turn, missed lunch again and ended up getting back first!”

It’s the second tour for Richard Pasco, who added: “Being told you have cancer is obviously a huge life moment but for it to be followed up by all this information and support from a local charity made it so much easier to deal with.

“I caught my cancer quite early and really want to spread the word that checking yourself is such a simple but effective way of keeping on top of this disease. I’ve done some long bike rides but never in a big group like this which will be absolutely fantastic; working together and supporting each other to get round the route and raise as much money as we possibly can for a great charity.”

With the average age of diagnosis for testicular cancer being 32 years, it is the most common cancer in men aged between 15-49 years. Approximately 240 young men in the South West (Hereford to Penzance) are diagnosed with the cancer each year (2,400 are diagnosed across the UK as a whole).

Early diagnosis is key to effective treatment and survival: 96% of young men diagnosed with testicular cancer are cured. Raising awareness of the disease and encouraging men to check their testicles on a monthly basis is essential, and It’s in the Bag provide lots of information about this in various formats - see https://itsinthebag.org.uk/awareness

The Tour is sponsored by businesses Out of Hand, VX3, VMR, Techmodal, RME, Astra Security, TwoSix Communications, ArgoDevops and Graphic Mill. Out of Hand, a Bristol-based graphic design company, have supported the charity since 2010.

Sue Brand added: “It’s in the Bag continues to have a fantastic relationship with Out of Hand, who have printed thousands of awareness materials, posters, leaflets and so much more over the years. It is great to see their logo on the front of the shirts. A special mention too, to local businesses VX3 and Graphic Mill, who always support the tour.”

Michael Wride, Managing Director at Out of Hand, said: “We are proud to be supporting It’s in the Bag once again. We all know someone who may be impacted by cancer, and the challenges that this brings. The work this charity does across the South West is amazing. I’d like to wish all the riders the very best of luck as they take on this mammoth task.”

It’s in the Bag would like to thank all our volunteers, supporters and venues for their hard work and support.

List of stops

Day 1: The Slipway Westward Ho! 08.00: First stop Quinces Honey Farm South Molton 10.15, lunch stop is Canal Tea Rooms Tiverton 12.30, Afternoon Tea stop Sheppy’s Cider Farm, Taunton 15.00 and completing Day 1 at The Holiday Inn Express Taunton 17.30 – 18.30.

Day 2: Taunton: First stop Stuarts Café, Illminster 10.15, Lunch at Middlewick Farm Shop Glastonbury 12.30, afternoon tea at New Manor Farm Chew Valley 15.00, and completing Day 2 at The Travelodge Weston Super Mare 17.30 – 18.30.

Day 3: Weston Super Mare: A more leisurely start to stop at Shirley’s Café Severn Beach 10.15, lunch Leaf & Gound Dursley 12.30 then on to The Globe in Frampton Cottrell for an end of tour party 4pm.

Volunteers still required to help at the stops - and to wave flags, make some noise and #ChaseThePants!

If you would like to come to the end of tour party, please see the event on Facebook: https://fb.me/e/7XISHQW3Y

Ways to support the riders

1. Scan the QR code
2. Go to https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/letourdeballsquatre
3. To donate just £5 text TEXT BALLS to 70450 or BALLSNOINFO to opt out of further contact.