Race is on to beat cancer

Kevin McRoberts • Published 27 Jan 2010 10:29 0 Comments

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Sarah Lockie will run the Race for Life, supported by husband Brian, who beat testicular cancer, and their two-year-old son Callum.

AN ALLOA woman whose husband beat testicular cancer is urging local women to enter Cancer Research UK's Race for Life and create 'amazing moments' for themselves and thousands of others.

Sarah Lockie's husband, Brian (35) was diagnosed with testicular cancer in February 2005, just four months before they were due to get married in Barbados.

It was devastating news for the young couple, but after undergoing surgery to remove the tumour and months of check-ups, Brian was finally given the all-clear and - just one year after he was diagnosed with cancer - Sarah fell pregnant.

Now the couple have a two-year-old son Callum, and the happy family are so grateful for the excellent treatment and care Brian received that they want to support Cancer Research UK's efforts to help others beat cancer.

However, their hopes of starting a family together seemed a distant dream when Brian was first diagnosed with cancer.

"It was a really worrying time," said Brian. "We were just about to get married, so to be told I had cancer was like a hammer blow.

He went on, "It started off with just a lump on the testicle itself. I thought, it's fine, in a couple of days it'll go away. Then all of a sudden it got bigger but I still just left it."

While he tried to ignore it, Sarah booked a doctor's appointment for him

Brian went on, "I'm glad she did now as I was scared to go. When I went I was nervous thinking it could be this, it could be that, but the minute I saw the doctor's face I knew and it just broke my heart."

After being transferred to see a specialist Brian and Sarah were told the news they were dreading to hear - the lump was a cancerous tumour.

Things moved quickly from the initial diagnosis and within a week Brian was on the operating table at Falkirk Royal Infirmary where the tumour and his testicle were removed.

Brian said, "For two weeks after surgery I didn't know if the cancer had spread, and suddenly our whole lives seemed to be on hold. I was always hopeful that I'd survive, but knew that the chances of us being able to start our own family were really slim.

"Thankfully the care and attention I received was just brilliant, and it was an incredible moment when I learned that the surgery had been a success and I didn't need any additional treatment like chemotherapy."

There was more good news for Sarah and Brian when Sarah fell pregnant with Callum.

Incredibly, in the weeks before Callum was born, the couple organised a fishing competition at Gartmorn Dam. 'Hooked on Life' helped raise awareness of testicular cancer and £2400 for Cancer Research UK.

And Sarah continued working just two days before Callum was born on Sunday 3 June 2007, weighing 8lbs 14ozs.

Sarah said, "Callum is like our own wee miracle. We thought it would be next to impossible to have our own child without fertility treatment, so when I found out I was pregnant it was just amazing - a truly amazing moment!"

Sarah is now planning to raise more funds for Cancer Research UK by taking part in Race for Life, a unique celebration of sisterhood and pride where women of all ages and fitness levels join together to walk, jog or run 5k and raise money for the charity's life-saving work.

Their commitment helps fund Cancer Research UK's research into all forms of cancer - ensuring that more people survive and can go on to create precious memories of their own.

Sarah, Brian and and Callum represent the 74 men and women diagnosed with cancer in Scotland every day.

The 'signs' held by Sarah, Brian and Callum capture meaningful milestones in their life over the last five years.

Sarah plans to take part in Race for Life at Stirling University on 13 June. She is hoping to motivate other women to enter the event and share the unforgettable atmosphere on the day.

Sarah said, "Thanks to research we have a wonderful family. I am so grateful for the treatment that Brian had and for Callum being here.

"Success stories like ours would not be possible without the work of Cancer Research UK, which in turn relies on everyone who raises money through Race for Life."

Cancer Research UK's Race for Life 2010 is the UK's largest women-only fundraising event series.

By raising money to support the charity's work, participants are helping men, women and children beat cancer so that they, like Sarah, can enjoy precious times with their loved ones.

In 2009, more than 2000 women took part in Race for Life in Stirling and helped raise more than £100,000.

Carolyn Johnston, Cancer Research UK's events manager for the Stirling Race for Life, said, "Women of all ages, abilities, shapes and sizes take part take part in Race for Life. They motivate and inspire each other to complete the 5k course.

"Many simply walk round, chatting and having fun but they all share the wonderful atmosphere.

"This year Cancer Research UK's Race for Life is going to be full of amazing moments for everyone - from lining up at the start, side-by-side with thousands of other women, to reading the inspirational 'back-signs' worn by participants to the fantastic sense of achievement from crossing the finish line."

Race for Life started in 1994. At the time, many people diagnosed with cancer did not survive.

But over the last 16 years, money generated by Race for Life has supported Cancer Research UK's work and now the overall death rate for the disease has dropped by 15 per cent.

Carolyn added, "One-in-three people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage in their lives.

"But the good news is that more people are beating the disease than ever before.

"Cancer Research UK's work is at the heart of that progress. By helping to raise money through Race for Life, our supporters are turning hope into reality."

Women can enter Cancer Research UK's Race for Life at www.raceforlife.org or by calling 0871 641 1111.

* Cancer Research UK's Race for Life 2010 is the UK's largest women only fundraising series where thousands of women all round the UK come together to share amazing moments and simply walk, jog or run 5k to raise money to help beat cancer.

* Entry fee is £12.99 to cover organisational and administration costs of the series.

* There are over 230 Race for Life events around the UK from May to the end of July.

* Cancer Research UK hopes that over 700,000 women will come together to raise over £60 million to fund Cancer Research UK's life-saving work.

* Race for Life started in 1994 and is celebrating its 16th birthday this year. The first event took place at Battersea Park with 680 participants.

* Since Race for Life began in 1994, an incredible 4.7 million participants across the UK raised over £327 million to fund Cancer Research UK's life-saving work.

* Cancer Research UK's Race for Life 2010 is supported by the following Official Partners: Tesco, NIVEA, Diamond car insurance and Go-Ahead.

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