A SOUTHAMPTON doctor will row 200 miles across the Mediterranean this summer to raise awareness about a cancer-causing virus.

Leo Krivskiy, 49, is a Consultant Anaesthetist at the University Hospital Southampton.

Daily Echo:

Competing against three other teams of five, he will be completing a charity rowing race in July between Barcelona and Ibiza to raise money for for NOMAN, a charity campaigning for universal vaccination against Human papillomavirus (HPV).

HPV is a common group of viruses which are responsible for up to 75% of oral and anal cancers in both men and women, in addition to cervical cancers.

His JustGiving site has currently raised just £2,000 of his £10,000 target.

On his reasons for wanting to raise awareness of HPV, Leo said: “I have three daughters, with two of them not that far from their vaccination age.

“Also, I regularly treat patients with HPV-associated oral, and anal cancers, and have seen a dramatic change in the demographics, and numbers of those cancers in the past 20 years.”

He is currently training hard ahead of the challenge, and carried out a practise row on the River Solent on Saturday.

He said: “Having learned about the charity NOMAN, I am very impressed by their work, and would like to contribute in a small way by raising money.”

Leo urged people to “learn about the charity, their work, and vaccination programmes, which are now running, and available to both boys, and girls in the UK thanks to the NOMAN.”

To join 70 other people in sponsoring, Leo visit his fundraising page https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/leo-krivskiy1.

HPV causes around 5% of all cancers worldwide.

For more information about the charity NOMAN visit www.nomancampaign.org.