London Marathon: Wiltshire woman running after dad's rare cancer
A woman said she was inspired to run her first marathon by her dad's rare cancer diagnosis.Zoë Driver, who lives in Wylye near Salisbury in Wiltshire, will take on the London Marathon on Sunday to raise money for charity Sarcoma UK after her dad, Richard, was diagnosed with liposarcoma in 2023.Mr Driver saw a doctor after complaining about back pain and bloating, and was found to have a "tumour the size of a rugby ball", his daughter said, which was subsequently removed. He is now cancer free.Helen Stradling from Sarcoma UK urged anyone experiencing persistent pain, swelling or lumps to "seek medical advice promptly".
According to the charity, sarcoma is a cancer that starts in the soft tissue, bones, or as a gastrointestinal stromal tumour.Liposarcoma, which retired IT consultant Mr Driver was diagnosed with after writing his symptoms off as a tennis injury, develops in fat cells."He had a tumour the size of a rugby ball which he had to have removed alongside several organs," Ms Driver, 32, said.Her father's surgery went well but his recovery was tough, as he was not able to eat or drink for six weeks.
Mr Driver experienced vomiting and sepsis, which was caused by what was left of his pancreas and gallbladder leaking into his bloodstream.He also had a heart attack, expected to be caused by the pressure his body was under, and one of his lungs started to shut down.Now, he is cancer free, and his daughter is planning to raise money for Sarcoma UK by running the London Marathon on 27 April."It's such a rare cancer," Ms Driver said.
"It's really hard to know the symptoms of it and I just wanted to do something that would raise a bit more awareness and hopefully a good amount of money to go to the charity."Ms Stradling urged anyone with persistent pain, swelling or lumps to seek medical advice "promptly"."These rare tumours can grow silently for years, and symptoms are often mistaken for everyday aches and pains," she said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
Man in his 70s dies after crash at roundabout near Milton Keynes
A man in his 70s died after the Mercedes he was driving was involved in a collision at a Police said it happened on Sunday on the ring road roundabout junction with the A508 on the outskirts of Milton services were called to the scene at about 13:35 BST, and the driver was taken to hospital, where he died a short time force said the incident was a single-vehicle collision, and it wanted to talk to anyone who saw the crash or had relevant dash-cam footage. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Daily Mirror
29-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
'I had pain in my buttock - diagnosis took a few weeks to sink in'
Andy Spary, 39, initially thought it was an injury A runner has quipped he's after a Kim Kardashian-esque rear end after his cancer diagnosis led to groundbreaking reconstructive surgery on his buttock. Carpenter Andy Spary, 39, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, initially mistook severe pain in his posterior for a common injury before being hit with the earth-shattering news of stage three bowel cancer, requiring surgeons to excise "a big chunk of his bum". Despite facing a major operation, Andy and his spouse Amy, 35, are managing to see the bright side, harbouring hopes of an enhanced profile post-surgery thanks to the medics' handy work using tissue from nearby areas to recreate his buttock. Former rollerblader Andy isn't just sitting on his new glutes; he's setting ambitious goals to tackle the London Marathon next year as part of his recovery journey and to drum up funds for Trekstok, a charity aiding young cancer sufferers. "The diagnosis was a shock and it took a few weeks to really sink in," he confessed. "I had a feeling something was not right but you're never really prepared for news like that." Andy said: "My wife has been joking that we should get a catalogue to choose from. I joked that it should be a voluptuous number which might be good for bouncing off when I fall on my skates – Kim Kardashian's name got thrown around a lot." The onset of Andy's troubles traced back to March 2024 when he rushed to A&E at Tunbridge Wells Hospital with an acute burning pain in his left buttock - initially dismissed as a skating injury. An MRI scan and subsequent biopsy uncovered a tumour branching from his colon, leading to a stage three bowel cancer diagnosis for Andy on June 14, 2024. This condition was found to be associated with his pre-existing Crohn's disease, which is known for causing persistent inflammation within the digestive system and can trigger abnormal cellular growth. "They class it as colon cancer but the tumour has branched off of my colon in my buttocks area and is spreading," Andy explained. "We're focusing on the positives, which helps, taking it that it's treatable and I can beat it." On July 8, Andy underwent surgery to have a stoma fitted, effectively sidelining the cancerous region in preparation for chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which commenced two months later. Despite hopes, the tumour did not diminish as much as anticipated, prompting a second surgery on May 21, aimed at eradicating the cancer while maintaining the stoma. "In an ideal world, if the treatment completely destroyed the tumour then the stoma could be reversed," he said. "But realistically I think this is rare and if they could've shrunk the tumour down as much as possible it meant they wouldn't have to take out as big of a chunk of my bum. The plan was always to have surgery and end up with a stoma bag for life." The medical team proceeded on May 21 to excise the remaining portion of Andy's colon, including the residual tumour. A plastic surgeon followed up with laparoscopic elape surgery to mend his pelvic floor and reconstruct his posterior using tissue from the surrounding area. Andy said: "One surgeon removes the tumour and then the plastic surgeon patches everything up. New bum, new me, all good." The surgery also presents the hopeful benefit of alleviating his Crohn's disease symptoms, as it involves removing most of the affected area. A keen rollerblader, Andy is well-acquainted with hospitals due to numerous admissions, and he admits he's "no stranger to surgery". He credits running for keeping him robust in body and mind, revealing that he would squeeze in jogs between biweekly chemotherapy sessions whenever he felt up to it. This determination has fuelled his ambition to run the 2026 London Marathon for Trekstok, a charity supporting young adults with cancer. His fundraising efforts on GoFundMe have already surpassed £3,350. "During my process battling this, I feel I've been incredibly fortunate to have had my wife and my parents to support me," Andy said. He recognises that not everyone has such a network, highlighting Trekstok's role in aiding young people blindsided by illness without a support system. The outpouring of generosity on GoFundMe has left him astounded, with donations reaching £2,500 in less than a week and still climbing. Andy said: "I've been blown away by the GoFundMe support, making £2,500 in under a week and it's still going. If I could make £10,000, that would be unbelievable." Currently in hospital post-surgery, Andy is eager to get discharged by the end of May. He faces the challenge of relearning to walk through physiotherapy, with hopes to resume marathon training by year's end. He's been able to sit up and even take his initial steps post-surgery. He mentioned that while doctors have optimism about the surgery's success, he must await a month-long period before a scan can verify if he's indeed free from cancer. "Keeping fit and healthy has been my best weapon," said Andy. "Having the goal of running my first marathon next year – stoma bag and all – is my motivation to stay positive and keep going. After this process, I'll be back on my feet, stronger and fitter with no more Crohn's and no more cancer, sorted."
Pembrokeshire Herald
28-05-2025
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Ashmole & Co raise more than £16,000 for Welsh cancer charity
Staff skydive, run and walk to support Tenovus Cancer Care STAFF at Ashmole & Co have raised more than £16,000 for Tenovus Cancer Care following a year of ambitious fundraising challenges, including skydives, marathons and charity walks. The accountancy firm's team pulled together across its Welsh offices to raise a total of £16,109.55 for the cancer support charity. Among the highlights was a tandem skydive over the Gower coastline, completed by ten thrill-seeking staff members. Partner Jim Cornock took on both the London Marathon and the notoriously gruelling Marathon Eryri last autumn, while Helen James from the Ammanford office organised a fundraising entertainment evening that brought in more than £1,600. Other events included a 12-mile sponsored walk along the Swansea coastal path and regular dress-down Fridays and cake sales in offices across the region. Sharon George, Partner at the Carmarthen office, said: 'Everyone knows someone affected by cancer. We wanted to support a charity based here in Wales, and Tenovus Cancer Care does incredible work helping families across the country. We're so grateful to our clients and friends who contributed to this effort—it's thanks to them we've raised such a significant amount.' The funds raised will cover one month's costs to operate one of Tenovus' Mobile Support Units, which deliver vital cancer treatments and services directly to Welsh communities. Clare Davies, Regional Fundraising Manager for Tenovus, added: 'We're incredibly grateful to Ashmole & Co for their dedication over the past year. The money they've raised will make a real difference to cancer patients and their families, helping us provide treatment, expert advice and emotional support when it's needed most.' Tenovus Cancer Care supports people affected by cancer across Wales through a wide range of services, including a free support line, community choirs, and its Mobile Support Units. For more information, visit
