
Peterborough cancer survivor thanks charity with marathon run
A cancer survivor has signed up for this year's London Marathon in aid of the charity that supported her journey.In 2020, Clare Ford was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma after finding a lump in her neck.The 55-year-old, who works at the North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust (NWAFT) which runs Peterborough City Hospital, is now in remission and described her treatment as a "tough time".Since her diagnosis, husband Brendan Ford and son Michael Ford have raised £11,300.
Ms Ford, from Grantham in Lincolnshire, is raising money for Lymphoma Action, which is believed to be the fifth most common cancer.Talking about her cancer journey, Ms Ford said: "It came as a complete shock."The whole experience was made even worse as I went through my treatment during Covid, which meant I was unable to have anyone with me for support."It was a very tough time."She said she would be "forever grateful" to the charity.
Her husband and son have run the London Marathon over the last couple of years.She said she was inspired by her son, who ran 999 miles (1,608km) from John O' Groats in Scotland to Lands' End in Cornwall, via the three peaks, in 19 days.Ms Ford is part of Grantham Running Club and first ran the marathon in 2014."The training so far has been challenging, particularly in the recent spell of cold weather, but I have been spurred on and motivated by wonderful family and friends," Ms Ford said.
Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


STV News
2 hours ago
- STV News
Cancer survivor places second in half marathon six months after finishing chemo
A cancer survivor from Midlothian finished second in Edinburgh's half marathon just six months after completing chemotherapy. Christian Graham, from Lasswade, went for a scan after finding a growing cluster of small but unusual lumps on the right side of his face and neck. Antibiotics and steroids failed to reduce the swelling, and a CT scan revealed he had a form of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. A few weeks later he was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma, a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer. Fortunately for Christian, a PET scan confirmed that the disease had been caught early. Will Graham via Supplied Christian during his treatment. The 22-year-old, who has competed at a national level in cross-country races, as well as 3K, 5K, and 10K events, was left in 'complete shock' following the diagnosis, along with his family. 'When the diagnosis finally came, it was an emotional roller coaster for the whole family – but especially for Christian,' said Will Graham, Christian's father. 'Unable to return to the US to continue his studies or pursue his passion for running, he faced an abrupt and difficult pause in the life he had worked so hard to build. Although it was an incredibly worrying time, we found some reassurance in that his scans showed the cancer hadn't spread.' Christian sought treatment immediately and started to regain his health during intensive chemotherapy at Edinburgh Western General Hospital's Teenage Cancer Trust unit. Will Graham continued: 'We were told treatment would be intensive, given the aggressive nature of Burkitt's lymphoma, but there was hope: if all went well, it would last just three months. We clung to that timeline, determined to stay positive and began counting down the days. Will Graham via Supplied Christian has completed a full recovery. 'Christian approached it with a mindset of quiet determination – ready to embrace the challenge and 'get it done'. There were tough days, of course, but his natural fitness played a crucial role in helping him manage the harsh side effects and avoid delays often caused by infection and illness, which are all too common during this type of treatment.' He completed his chemotherapy treatment in late November 2024 and the treatment was deemed successful, with all cancer removed and a positive prognosis. Despite remaining in recovery, he participated in last month's Edinburgh half marathon, finishing second with an impressive time of one hour, six minutes and fifteen seconds. Not only did he place second in one of the largest half marathons in the UK, but he also raised nearly £3,000 for Teenage Cancer Trust. He's currently focused on regaining full fitness before returning to Boise State University in Idaho, USA, this summer where he will resume his MBA studies to pursue a two-year Master's in business administration and rejoin their track and cross-country team. Christian Graham said: 'Teenage Cancer Trust was a lifeline during my time in hospital receiving chemotherapy. The dedicated ward, with my own bed, TV and bathroom, made an incredibly tough time more bearable. 'Beyond the fantastic facilities, the specialist nurses and Teenage Cancer Trust staff offered constant support, always checking in and helping me navigate treatment. 'I truly don't know how I would have coped without them, and I'll always be deeply grateful for their care and compassion.' Dr Louise Soanes, chief nurse, Teenage Cancer Trust said: 'Cancer is very different for teenagers and young adults than it is for children and older adults. That's why our units don't feel like hospital. 'They're specially designed spaces where young people facing cancer can feel at home, meet others their age, welcome family and friends, and get the very best care from dedicated nurses and youth support teams. 'Everyone at Teenage Cancer Trust is in awe at Christian's achievement, and we wish him continued luck in his recovery, future studies and of course races!' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country


Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
New breast screening video breaks through barriers for trans healthcare
A new breast screening video from a cancer charity attempts to make healthcare accessible for the trans community with a step-by-step guide to breast screenings. Pride month welcomes a new initiative by Macmillan Cancer's Research which attempts to highlight breast cancer awareness in a new, inclusive video for transgender people. The Rainbow Project Cancer Champions is one of Macmillan's project supporting those experiencing cancer. Their newest launch aims to support transgender and non-binary people in accessing breast and and encourage them to use chest screening services - specifically made by and for the community. Working with the Breast Imaging Unit at Antrim Area Hospital, the video is the first of an inclusive series on cancer care that is accessible to LGBTQIA+ people. Jane, a participant who acted in the video, said she took part "to help bring awareness of breast screening to trans and non-binary people," and shared that after meeting the friendly team, she "wouldn't be nervous at all about going for a breast screening appointment. I felt very at ease with everyone," added Jane. By "demystifying the process," the video can help build confidence for anyone anxious or unsure about what to expect particularly those often left out of traditional health messaging," claimed the Rainbow Project team. Cancer Champion's project manager, Joe Henson, detailed the barriers trans and non-binary people face when accessing screenings. "From GP records excluding us from automated recall systems, to dysphoria, healthcare anxiety, and a lack of gender-affirming environments. This video is just the start of changing that," Joe said. "Our project aims to remove those barriers for the whole LGBTQIA+ community." Macmillan's chief medical officer, Richard Simcock, added: "We know that Trans and Non-Binary people's access to Breast Screening is affected by a range of complex issues and barriers. From screening and diagnosis, through to treatment and support, it is essential that Trans and Non-Binary people get the care they need and are entitled to. Everyone, no matter who they are or where they live, deserves to access the best care possible". Help us improve our content by completing the survey below. We'd love to hear from you! The Rainbow Project CEO, Scott Cuthbertson, described the video as showing "what healthcare can look like when it is co-designed with the people it serves". He also shared that it was by working with trans people the pride he felt in being able to give "an often-marginalised community a sense of ownership over their care and help them feel more able to access the support that they need." Their hope is to "increasing uptake of testing and early detection."


Daily Record
4 hours ago
- Daily Record
All you need to know about new Covid strain 'Nimbus' as doctors issue UK warning
The new variant, called NB.1.8.1, or 'Nimbus' spreads more easily than previous strains on the virus, spreading rapidly around the globe. Doctors have issued a warning for the UK over the new easily transmissible strain of Covid, called 'Nimubs', which has seen a surge of in the country. The new variant, also called NB.1.8.1, is making up a "growing proportion" of Covid cases worldwide, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). China and Hong Kong have seen a surge in cases as well as 21 other countries, and 13 cases have already been found in the UK, warned doctors. Symptoms of Nimbus are similar to previous variants, with a painful sore throat and even heartburn reported as key signs of the new strain. According to Dr Naveed Asif, GP at The London General Practice, the NB.1.8.1 variant has a distinctive symptom, a severe sore throat known as a "razor blade sensation". Common Covid symptoms like fever, muscle aches and congestion as well as redness in the back of the mouth and swollen neck glands are also listed symptoms of NB.1.8.1. "However, symptoms can vary widely so vigilance is key," Dr Asif told the Manchester Evening News. According to the NHS, Covid symptoms include a high temperature, a new continuous cough, a loss or change to sense of smell or taste, shortness of breath and feeling sick. Although classic Covid symptoms include a severe cough, sore throat and high fever, NB.1.8.1 has also been found to have gastrointestinal symptoms. Symptoms of the new variant include: Nausea Vomiting Diarrhoea Heartburn Bloating Constipation Abdominal pain The World Health Organization (WHO) has added the variant to its official watch list, suggesting that it is more transmissible than other strains of the virus. However, there isn't any evidence to indicate that it causes more serious illness than previous versions of Covid. Nimbus first appeared in January, and by late April it was responsible for around 10.7 per cent of global infections, up from just 2.5 per cent a month earlier. Recent weeks have also seen a spike of cases in Ireland. Data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) shows that the proportion of sequenced Covid samples linked to NB.1.8.1 jumped from 3.7 per cent to 27.3 per cent in the last five weeks. The variant has been flagged in the UK, US and Australia, and has been linked to spikes in Covid cases in India, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Thailand. Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, UKHSA Deputy Director, said: "NB.1.8.1 has been detected in small numbers in the UK to date, but international data suggests that it is growing as a proportion of all COVID-19 cases. "Based on the available information so far however, there is no evidence to suggest that this variant causes more severe disease than previous variants, or that the vaccines in current use will be less effective against it." 'Variants like this pop up when the virus mutates, which is normal for viruses, especially ones that spread widely,' explained Dr Chun Tang, GP at Pall Mall Medical. 'NB.1.8.1 was first picked up in early 2025 and has since been detected in several countries, including the UK, China and US. It's got some new mutations that scientists are keeping a close eye on.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!