Malcolm Vincent's (Vice President Sales Europe, Lifeplus) life is built on the foundation of health, wellness and balance. But his journey, especially as a father to twins born prematurely, adds a personal dimension to his commitment to health and research. As a keen cyclist and a passionate advocate for medical research, Malcolm shares his family's experience, his love for cycling and why he’s returning to the Champions of CycleSport Dinner.
A journey through premature birth
In the summer of 2012, during the London Olympics, Malcolm and his wife were expecting twin girls. While their pregnancy started like any other, it took a complicated turn. During routine scans, the couple was referred from their local hospital in Kettering to the John Radcliffe (JR) Hospital in Oxford, where doctors detected a significant size difference between the twins. This disparity raised concerns about the risk of Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS), a condition where one twin receives more blood flow than the other, putting both at risk.
Twin-twin transfusion syndrome affects around one in 10 identical twins who share a placenta. Abnormal connections develop in the shared placenta, connecting the babies’ blood supplies. This causes unequal sharing of blood between them and can be life-threatening. Following support from Action Medical Research, researchers are now trialling a new procedure that could be safer than the current treatment for twin-twin transfusion syndrome, helping to prevent serious complications and save more tiny lives.
At 28 weeks, Malcolm embarked on a cycling journey from London to Paris to raise funds for cystic fibrosis research. His wife was heavily pregnant, but it wasn’t until his return that the urgency of the situation truly hit home. During a scan at 30 weeks, doctors determined that the TTTS risk had escalated, and the decision was made to induce labour. In an emergency C-section, Emily and Brooke were delivered at 30 weeks. Emily weighed 1.3kg, while her smaller sister Brooke was just 1.1kg.
The twins spent their first two weeks in the NICU at JR Hospital before being transferred closer to home for another three weeks. Thanks to the diligent monitoring and care provided by medical professionals, both girls pulled through those challenging early days. Now, at 12 years old, Emily and Brooke are thriving – healthy, active, and full of energy: "It's remarkable that they’ve never been back to the hospital," says Malcolm, still amazed at their resilience and how far they’ve come.
Cycling for wellness and inspiration
Cycling has always been a passion for Malcolm, long before he became a father. But now, it serves as a source of balance, a way to stay fit, sane, and grounded amidst life’s challenges. Reflecting on the events surrounding the birth of his daughters, Malcolm shares that cycling the London to Paris before their arrival wasn’t just a way to raise funds for charity, but a personal form of meditation and self-care during those uncertain times.
2012 was a monumental year for British cycling, with Sir Bradley Wiggins claiming victory in the Tour de France and stars like Laura Kenny, Joanna Rowsell, and Dani King winning Gold at the London Olympics. Malcolm fondly remembers being in the velodrome on ‘Super Saturday’, witnessing British cycling history unfold. That same summer, his daughters were born – a moment of personal significance intertwined with a landmark year for the sport.
Since then, Malcolm has participated in the Ride London event every year, a tradition that now holds sentimental value as the route passes by his childhood home in Writtle: "It amazes me how many connections there are.”
Inspiring the next generation
Malcolm's love for cycling has naturally passed down to his children. Emily and Brooke, inspired by their father and professional athletes, are developing their passion for cycling as well. Malcolm hopes that one day, his daughters and their 11 month older sibling Adam will ride together, “perhaps on a triplet bike.”
Recently, the family attended the Tour de France Femmes, where Emily and Brooke were inspired by the incredible female athletes competing at the highest level. "Seeing what these women do, hearing their stories – it's truly inspiring," Malcolm says.
Supporting the Champions of CycleSport Dinner 2024
This November, Malcolm will be attending the Champions of CycleSport Dinner, an event that he has supported for years. "The highlight is always the people – rubbing shoulders with incredible athletes, sharing a love of cycling and supporting the amazing work of Action Medical Research." As someone who has experienced the impact of medical research firsthand, Malcolm is aware of the importance of supporting research:
“Action Medical Research do a brilliant job funding quality research to help save and change children's lives. Lifeplus are delighted to return as sponsors to this special event which celebrates cycling and raises funds for a worthwhile cause.”
We look forward to seeing Malcolm on the 20th November at the Royal Lancaster Hotel.
For more information on the dinner and how you can support Action Medical Research’s vital work head to www.action.org.uk/champs.
Find out more about the work at Lifeplus at www.lifeplus.com / @lifeplus.official and follow Malcolm at @malcolm_vincent_uk.