Latest news with #Haberfield
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Renowned professor completes his 250th run months after being told he didn't have long to live
Terminal brain cancer sufferer Richard Scolyer has hit a fitness milestone that he feared he wouldn't live to acheive. Professor Scolyer, who co-directs the Melanoma Institute, was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2023 but experimental treatment initially kept the disease at bay. In March however, doctors told him an aggressive glioblastoma had returned meaning he had just months to live. Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive types of brain cancer and causes fast-growing tumors to develop in the brain or spinal cord. After hearing the news, Professor Scolyer vowed to make the most of what little time he had left and pledged to complete 250 park runs. He was surrounded by friends and family when he crossed his latest finish line in Haberfield in Sydney on Saturday. Professor Scolyer donned a special t-shirt to commemorate the occasion and was met with three balloons spelling out '250' at the finish line. Despite the rain Professor Scolyer told those who were out waiting for him that he was glad to make the most of the time he had left. Professor Scolyer became emotional when he began thanking everyone for their support. 'My heart's touched … one of the challenges of having cancer is the worry for the future but there is more to life,' he said. 'We are all going to end up at some period where we're going to finish our lives, I want to make the most of my time.' The former Australian of the Year said 'it was a beautiful day' after finishing the park run alongside his wife Katie Nicoll. Professor Scolyer's daughter Emily, 21, son Matt, 19, older brother Mark and his partner Anna waited at the finish line with cupcakes to celebrate. Ms Nicoll only started joining her husband on runs after he became sick but managed to run her personal best time for his 250th park run. A park run is a 5km timed run, open to walkers, joggers, and runners of all ages and abilities which is often hosted by local communities on weekends. The run was Haberfield's biggest as 590 runners showed up to support Professor Scolyer. Emily said 'time is not promised' which made her father's goal so much more special. His family said they were prioritising spending whatever time remained since doctors told them it might only be a matter of months before he dies. In March, the family were able to organise a trip to Tasmania to celebrate Professor Scolyer's father's 90th birthday. Looking towards the future, Professor Scolyer said he had signed up for the City2Surf on August 10. The family are optimistic that he will be able to run the event and Ms Nicoll said she had seen her husband sneaking out for occasional run in preparation.
ABC News
a day ago
- Health
- ABC News
Professor Richard Scolyer completes 250th Parkrun, a goal set after cancer diagnosis
Former Australian of the Year Richard Scolyer has completed his 250th Parkrun — a milestone he set after he was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in 2023. The renowned melanoma researcher was among hundreds of runners who took part in the Greenway Parkrun at Haberfield in Sydney's inner west on Saturday morning. Professor Scolyer, who put himself forward as "patient zero" for revolutionary brain cancer treatment, crossed the finish line to applause and cheers from the crowd. Shortly after he finished the race, light rain began to fall and a rainbow formed over the reserve. When speaking to the media, he said 250 Parkruns was a "big goal" he set for himself. "I did a lot of Parkruns in the early 2000s but then as the kids go through various parts of their life you stop doing it," he said. "And then when I got sick again I wanted to try and get to 250. "I guess it's part of my personality. Bit embarrassing, but wanting to get to 250 was something that pushed me along." Professor Scolyer said it was "crazy" to see such a huge turnout at the run and that he was "very happy" to complete his goal. Professor Scolyer said he had doubts about whether he would reach the major milestone. "To be honest, I never thought I'd get there," he said. In a post to his more than 20,000 followers on X earlier this week, he wrote that it was a goal "I wasn't sure I'd reach" and that he was excited to be able to take part in the run. "So it's with a huge amount of gratitude to my family, friends, and medical team that I'll be celebrating this achievement," he said. The post on social media came after a long period of no updates, which Professor Scolyer said was due to the impact of his latest round of cancer treatment, but that he now felt "like the fog has lifted a bit". Professor Scolyer was diagnosed with an aggressive glioblastoma in 2023 and was given just six to eight months to live. But an experimental immunotherapy treatment he was given managed to keep the cancer at bay for almost two years with no recurrence. However, he revealed in March that after undergoing scans, he had received the heartbreaking news that his brain cancer had come back. In May, he had another setback, revealing that his first proper scan since the surgery showed the glioblastoma had progressed and it was getting "harder to treat". He told ABC News Breakfast last month he wasn't sure how much time he had left. "I'm still here and still able to chat to you so I'm pretty pleased about that," he said. "Who knows how long I've got. Could be months, could be less." Professor Scolyer said he's focused on spending the time he has left doing the things he loves most. "I love my life. I love the interactions I have with so many people. "I guess in reality, I have focused down on the things that I like doing. Spending more time with my family is number one, but also contributing to society. It's something I've done for a long, long time. "I've been a specialist for more than 25 years now. So a lot of things that I've done I don't want to give up just like that." Professor Scolyer has been very public and honest about his prognosis and journey through brain cancer treatment in interviews, social media and in his recent memoir, Brainstorm. His memoir, which was co-written with Garry Maddox, won the Social Impact Book of the Year at the Australian Book Industry Awards in Melbourne last month.
