Star of Real Housewives of Cheshire reveals fundraising challenge after cancer battle

Described as a 'Cheshire lad through and through' Rob Lloyd, who also appeared in Channel 4’s 'The Secret Millionaire', was diagnosed with lymphoma two years ago.

The 57-year-old businessman underwent months of gruelling chemotherapy to kill the cancer cells in his blood after splitting with co-star Ester Dee.

After browsing the charity Sense's website, he was inspired by four-year-old Mia and three-year-old Charlie Clucas' story.

Both were born blind and are unlikely to ever walk or speak.

Clucas family - Andrew, Nikki, Charlie and Mia

In an instant Rob knew he had to 'pay it forward'.

Although still on medication himself, he devised 'Rob's Senseless Challenge' and committed himself to 12 months of gruelling and daring challenges.

Rob was brought up on a dairy farm just outside Northwich in Antrobus.

He moved to North Wales when going through cancer but says: "I am a Cheshire lad through and through and my family of farmers live in the county."

Now, three months in to his challenge and he has put himself through a terrifying skydive, tortuous training with the SAS and a marathon bike ride.

Speaking about his battle with cancer, Rob said: "I was totally shocked and devastated when I discovered I had lymphoma.

"I only went to the doctors after I struggled around the 2019 London Marathon and kept getting nose bleeds and feeling rough afterwards.

"I’m not one to feel sorry for myself. I’ve won and lost a fortune over the years, but I’ve always picked myself up. Now I want to help others.

"After hearing about Mia and Charlie, I contacted Sense to see how I could help.

"The Clucas family receive vital support from the Sense Family Centre in Peterborough.

"It is where parents, Andrew and Nikki, have learned new ways of engaging with their children and experiencing new activities, together as a family.

"However, there are tens of thousands of families in the UK caring for children and adults with complex disabilities who are really struggling to cope and need help.

"Cuts to services over the last year have only made matters worse.

"I was thinking about what fundraising challenge I could take on to support Sense, and then I thought, why not do a series of challenges? So that is what I am doing."

Chief executive of Sense, Richard Kramer, said: "We’re enormously grateful to Rob for taking on this incredible challenge.

"He is a fantastic supporter of Sense making a huge difference to the work we do to support children and adults who have complex disabilities.

"It’s only thanks to supporters like Rob that Sense is able to continue its work. We wish him the best of luck!"

Rob's page on the Sense website can be found at sense.org.uk/support-us/fundraise/robs-senseless-challenge.