A team including the partner of one of the first cancer patients to be injected with new a tumour-destroying vaccine to take on a challenge in May to raise money for charity.
Martin Shaw is joining Roger Sanford, 40, and a team of nine from financial provider company, Syscap, to fundraise for Dimbleby Cancer Care by taking part in the UK’s greatest endurance challenge – a 100km event in which participants can walk, jog or run the distance from London to Brighton. The charity is supporting Roger’s partner Kelly through her cancer.
The London based team includes Steve Sanford, Tony O’Callaghan, Julian Mellors, Jon Mote, Stephen Nation-Tellery, Chris Hayes, Grant Toshack and Yamani Kasimu. The event takes place on 28/29 May.
This year marks the charity’s 50th anniversary, having been set up in 1966 in memory of broadcaster Richard Dimbleby and is based at Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospitals in London. It provides practical and psychological support to people living with cancer and to their families and carers.
Roger’s partner, Kelly Potter, 35 from Beckenham was diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer in July 2015. She has been using the charity’s psychological and complementary services while undergoing treatment at Guys and St Thomas’ hospital as well as the group self-help sessions.
Roger said: “I’m raising funds as a way of saying thank you to everyone at Dimbleby Cancer Care who have been there for Kelly (and me) since her diagnosis. Without their help and guidance I’m sure Kelly would not be as upbeat and positive as she is today
“The charity came to my attention shortly after Kelly was diagnosed and during her ongoing treatment it has been an absolute god send with hours of support, complementary therapies and counselling available to us. I cannot praise them highly enough for the work they do, which is given to the very highest standard and at a personal level. Everyone is treated as a unique individual and not as just another person with cancer. Kelly is doing well but her battle with cancer continues. The walk will be a real challenge for the team as it is 24-30 hours of continuous movement, but nothing compared to what Kelly has been through during the last nine months. It’s great to have Chris and the rest of the team with me.”
Kelly added: “After getting in touch with Dimbleby Cancer Care and having complementary therapies during my long days having Chemotheraphy, I quickly realised how amazing they were. I then started a stress and relaxation course plus counselling. I was then ready to begin my journey and it has been a massive help controlling the anxieties cancer can cause. Every single person at Dimbleby Cancer Care is a credit to the charity and everyone involved at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital. Roger and the team wanted to give a little back by pushing themselves to the limit. I didn’t think for one minute that would mean walking for 24hrs with little rest!”
All the money raised will go towards the charity’s ‘Care for the Future’ appeal, which aims to raise £500,000 by the end of 2016 so that it can continue and expand its work within the cancer community.
Robin Pritchard, Director for Dimbleby Cancer Care added: “At the heart of our charity’s work is supporting people with cancer and their families, as we are acutely aware of the impact it can have on the wider circle as well as those undergoing treatment themselves. Roger first contacted us through Twitter and it’s so great when we hear directly from people just what a difference our services make to them. We are just a small part of the complex journey through cancer treatment. Roger and Kelly are a real inspiration, and to see they have the support of the team at Syscap is fantastic.”
To support the team please visit https://www.justgiving.com/teams/syscap
