Death-defying wheelchair doctor races for charity

SINGAPORE — Seven years ago, Dr William Tan was wheelchair racing in the Paris Marathon when his nose began to bleed profusely early in the 42.195km race. As he struggled past the city’s famous Arc de Triomphe landmark to the finish line, the medical doctor knew this was no simple nose bleed.

On his return to Singapore, Tan was diagnosed with Stage 4 leukemia, with his doctor delivering devastating news: He had only nine to 12 months to live. But Tan, who is paralysed from the waist down due to childhood polio, hung on and outlived his doctor’s prognosis.

In September, the 59-year-old celebrated seven years in cancer remission by handcycling the four-day, 500km London to Paris cycle challenge to raise money for the National University Health System (NUHS) Fund Limited and help needy patients.

The endurance bike ride, which takes cyclists through the landscapes of Kent and northern France before going past the Arc de Triomphe and finishing at the Eiffel Tower, is also aimed at raising money for blood cancer patients.

While Tan had previously competed in the ultra-cycling challenge in 2014 and 2015, he said this year’s edition was the toughest for him.

“I had spent nine months training to qualify for the Rio Paralympic Games for the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, which were short distances,” he said.

“When I did this, I really suffered as sprints is very different from an endurance race, and I was constantly breathless.”

Clocking in some 140km a day over eight hours, Tan – who was the only disabled participant among some 250 cyclists – struggled to cope with the uphill climbs and wet weather conditions. A shoulder injury incurred on the first day, as well as elbow burns from constant contact with the road, only made the four-day journey even more challenging.

A steep incline in the Dover countryside also threatened to derail Tan’s plans on Day 1, as the 59-year-old found his handcycle sliding backwards. But the ride captain’s innovative use of a “magic stick” helped propel the para cyclist through the 2km uphill climb.

Despite the many challenges throughout the four-day journey, Tan was determined to press on, as he added: “I’m not trying to be a hero and I have physical limitations. It was a very painful four days, but I was euphoric at the moment when I passed the Arc de Triomphe. 

“Having Stage 4 leukemia, and being given nine to 12 months to live, that taught me that life is fragile. I realised that I have a lot of things on my bucket list to do, and I live everyday like it might be my last day as I might relapse.

“My brother and sister were also diagnosed with thyroid and breast cancer this year — my sister was the one who donated stem cells for my bone marrow transplant. This event was not only dedicated to charity, but also dedicated to them.”

This is not Tan’s first foray into charity fundraising, as the doctor – who is a resident physician at AMDA International Peace Clinic – says he has helped raise over S$18 million for local and international charities since 1987 through his skydiving, waterskiing, sailing and ultramarathon efforts.

The avid sportsman has also competed at the 1988 Seoul Paralympics, the World Games and Commonwealth Games, and won a table tennis bronze (men’s doubles) at the 2013 ASEAN Para Games. He also holds six world marathon endurance records.

And Tan is not done yet. Next year, he is aiming to tick off another two items on his bucket list: A 100km ultramarathon in Kenya to help raise money for children with HIV, and another fundraising race in Shanghai for an orphanage.

But for now, he is hoping that more people will come forward to donate to the NUHS Fund Limited, as his London to Paris challenge has only raised S$220 to date. Tan told TODAY that Ai Tong School’s principal, teachers and students had also conducted a donation drive during recess time after hearing about the poor response to his fundraising campaign, raising a total of S$650.

“I am very grateful to NUH (National University Hospital) for saving my life, and I want to give back,” he said. “I have been given a second chance in life and I want to live it in a meaningful way.

“This is a story of gratitude. Sometimes I complain too much, but leukemia has taught me to be grateful. Not qualifying for the Rio Paralympics was a blessing in disguise, as instead of chasing personal glory, I was able to able to do this race for charity.”

* Visit www.giving.sg/nuhs-fund-limited/dr_william_tan to find out more about Dr Tan’s cause