Chef cooks up charity stunt

08 March 2007

TOUR DE FORCE: West Ham chef Keith Ross and cardiologist Dr Andrew Deaner will be setting off from the club’s Upton Park ground on Monday

WEST Ham United's head chef is to cycle to every Premiership football ground in the country for charity - accompanied by the King George Hospital doctor who saved his life.

Keith Ross, 37, suffered a heart attack last June and was rushed to the London Chest Hospital in Bethnal Green.

"The team at the London Chest Hospital saved my life," Keith said. "I wanted to give something back in thanks for my treatment and a friend at work challenged me to cycle to every Premiership club."

Dr Andrew Deaner, 42, the cardiologist who carried out the emergency operation, also works at King George Hospital, Barley Lane, Goodmayes.

He said: "Keith's heart attack was caused by a blockage to a very big artery. The procedure took 30 minutes and seems to have been completely successful.

"I've always been a keen cyclist so when I heard of Keith's plans to cycle across England I couldn't stop myself volunteering to come along."

The 1,000-mile round trip is due to last 12 days, with the pair setting off from West Ham's Upton Park ground on Monday.

They aim to collect football memorabilia and merchandise at every club, which is to be auctioned off at a celebratory gala dinner at Upton Park on Friday, March 30.

Father-of-two Keith, of Durham Road, Dagenham, said: "I've been training for three months now and have been overwhelmed by the support I've received from West Ham, the London Hospital and all the clubs we're going to visit."

All the money raised will go towards a major research study at the hospital into a potentially revolutionary stem cell treatment for heart disease.

Dr Deaner added: "Hopefully we'll be able to raise a lot of money for what is really important research."

For more information on Keith and Andrew's Premiership cycle tour and the gala dinner, call the London Chest Hospital's fundraising office on 020 8983 2345 or email pat.gray@bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk.