World News – UK – Bob Champion beat 30% cancer survival to play in The Real Full Monty on Ice

EXCLUSIVE: Bob Champion underwent a grueling and revolutionary treatment to not only fully recover, but to win the Grand National just 18 months later. Create one of the greatest sports tales of all time

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For most 72-year-olds with zero skating experience, the prospect of getting naked on ice would be daunting to say the least.

But the former jump jockey Bob Champion has overcome bigger hurdles. He was diagnosed with testicular cancer at age 31 and had a 30% chance of survival.

But he underwent grueling and revolutionary treatment not only to recover completely, but to win the Grand National just 18 months later and create one of the greatest sports tales of all time.

And when he got the opportunity to raise awareness of cancer by attending The Real Full Monty on Ice, he jumped in for it.

« They asked me if I would do the Full Monty. I thought, « Well should I? ». They forgot to tell me it was on hold and I’ve never been on hold in my life, « says Bob with a laugh.

« Then I realized what the real thing is about the program. . . Getting people to check their bodies. After I had cancer, I realized how important it was.

« If the program saved a life or two, it was worth it for me. Especially now that people couldn’t see their GP. I’m trying to get people to see someone because it could save your life.

« What worries me is that in a few years time the death toll from cancer will be much higher because people haven’t had their tests. « . The earlier you get cancer, the greater your chance of recovery. ”

Bob knows this more than most. He had ignored telltale signs before seeking help. . . thanks to a friend.

He explains, “My diagnosis was made in a funny way. I was in pain down there and thought I had a kick or fall in a race so I didn’t do anything about it.

« I went to America to ride. I went out with a vet and after winning a race I managed to get her to bed that night. The first thing she said was, « If I were you, I would get on the first plane back to England to see a specialist. « . Well, that kept me from doing everything I promise you. ”

Bob got on that plane and went straight to the hospital where doctors told him he had cancer that had spread and the prognosis was not good.

He says, “You said you had two options. First, we have this new chemotherapy that gives you a 30% chance in life. If you don’t receive treatment you may have four or five months to live.

The professor said, ‘You are not a bad jockey. If you had a 6/4 shot you would take it with you, wouldn’t you? « . So he persuaded me to get the treatment. ”

The side effects Bob suffered from included terrible illnesses and blood poisoning that nearly killed him. Two things kept him through his darkest moments. « First of all, I didn’t want to die, » he says. “But then I wanted to come back as a jockey.

« When I was in the hospital I kept thinking I want to go back and ride Aldaniti in the National – he was always a horse that I said could win. ”

You were unlikely. Bob was so devastated by cancer and chemotherapy that he lost 40% of his lung capacity and the 5ft 9in patient had dropped to 8st 7lb – 2st less than his riding weight. The owners of Aldaniti have been advised by vets to park the horse because of a leg injury.

Bob spent six months getting back to full physical fitness while Aldaniti spent six months in a cast and completely stable rest. But on the morning of the 4th. By April 1st, 1981, Bob had no doubt that they would leave the National at Aintree post first.

“It was a creepy feeling, but I was so confident and I think that trust will also pass to the horse.

« I came to the start. It was very unusual for [Aldanitis coach] Josh Gifford to start and he had never done that before. . Josh smoked a hell of a lot and I said to him, « Guv’nor, if I win today you will quit smoking, won’t you? ». He said yes’. I won and he quit smoking.

« My orders kept him up to the last fence. I must have had the best run of any jockeys’ Canal Turn in the history of the race. Three fences later, I jumped forward.

« I thought what a bloody king the government was going to get me into the stands. « . I always thought of excuses when I was hit. . . We ended up winning by three lengths.

« As I pulled up, I thought, » This is for everyone who is suffering in the hospital, and for all doctors and nurses. « .

« The two nurses who looked after me in the hospital were [among] the first people I saw when I went into the saddle pen, and that meant so much to me. ”

Bob refuses to acknowledge one of the greatest sporting victories of all time. He says, “The credit goes to the owners and Josh.

“The old horse had legs like glass and always had leg problems. When I was sick he collapsed so badly at Ascot that the vet said, « Let him down ». .

« But the owners remembered me saying he was going to win a national. They said they would give him a chance. . . I just had to sit on him. ”

The victory made Bob and Aldaniti national heroes. They won the BBC Sports Personality Team of the Year and its story became the 1984 Film Champions with John Hurt.

Bob then founded the Bob Champion Cancer Trust, which funds and supports research into male cancers.

« I was lucky, » he says. « If it hadn’t been for this new treatment, I wouldn’t have been here. Many people died when they started treatment.

« It wasn’t the cancer that was going to kill you, but the treatment because it knocked you down so much.

« Some people gave up treatment because it was so barbaric. I almost died from it twice. I have septicemia. I remember [thought], « I’m dying, maybe it’ll be a lot easier than going through what I’m going through. « . It felt like a relief to die.

« But luckily I managed to finish the treatment. Forty years ago people thought cancer was death. . .

« Now so many people are being treated and getting through. When I had testicular cancer the chance was 30%, now it’s 95%. ”

Despite his success, he was discouraged by the prospect of joining stars like Gareth Thomas, 46, and Jake Quickenden, 32, on the ice.

« I’d rather ride a horse over ice skating in a novice hunt, » he says.

« It was difficult. I’ve skated with people half my age, but I think I did everything right. . . And luckily we did the last bit in one shot. ”

The Real Full Monty, Dancing On Ice, Jake Quickenden, Ashley Banjo, ITV