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Retired vet to cycle 8,000km for charity
Graham Duncanson and Emma Milne
Graham cycled via London, before going on to the English south coast with TV vet Emma Milne.
Septuagenarian hopes to complete his journey in two years

Graham Duncanson is celebrating 50 years in the veterinary profession by cycling more than 8,000km for charity. The retired vet, aged 72, will travel from the UK to South Africa to raise money for the Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF).

Since setting off from his home in Crostwick on 4 June, Graham has embarked upon a route that will take him through Western Europe into Greece. He will then fly to Ethiopia and cycle through Kenya, before following the Indian Ocean down the African continent's east coast to Cape Town. He hopes to complete his journey in two years.

It may sound extreme, but Graham says he is "no stranger to life of the road".

"My first job on qualifying was as a field vet in Kenya which I did for eight years. This will be a real adventure though as I'm not an accomplished cyclist, however, I look forward to the challenge and to raising money for AWF."

While on his travels, Graham plans to work with equine charitable organisations including the Brooke, SPANA and World Horse Welfare, giving talks on equine welfare and dentistry. He also hopes to travel through Egypt to give lectures, but this will depend on government travel advice at the time.

So far, Graham has cycled via London to attend the annual AWF discussion forum in Westminster, before going on to the English south coast with TV vet Emma Milne.

To sponsor Graham or for regular updates on his trip, visit: https://vetduncdares.wordpress.com/

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Applications open for MMI research grants

News Story 1
 RCVS' Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has launched round two of its veterinary mental health research grants.

Researchers have until 11.59pm on Wednesday, 28 May 2025 to apply for a grant for research which reflects MMI's 2025 focus areas.

Only one Impact Grant was awarded last year, and so this year there are two Discovery Grants and one Impact Grants available. Each Discovery Grant is worth £5,000 and the Impact Grant is worth £15,000.

For more information or to apply, email researchgrants@rcvs.org.uk to contact the MMI team.

 

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News Shorts
BBC Radio 4 documentary addresses corporate fees

BBC Radio 4's File on 4 Investigates has released a documentary exploring how corporate-owned veterinary practices may be inflating bills to increase profit.

Released on 15 April, 'What's Happening To Your Vet Bills?' revealed the policies which many corporate groups have in place to increase their profits. This included targets and upgrades which veterinary teams are tasked with meeting on a regular basis.

It also features Anrich Vets, an independently-owned practice based in Wigan. Following the case of Staffordshire terrier Benjy, who is diagnosed with a tumour, the documentary shares how the team were able to offer contextualised care and advice to make the procedure as affordable as possible for his owners.

The documentary can be heard on demand on BBC iPlayer.