17-year-old Theo to take on Great North Run for Weston Park Cancer Charity

On Sunday 7th September, 17-year-old Theo from Alfreton will be heading up to Newcastle to tackle the Great North Run – which is one of the world’s most popular half marathons.

Theo decided to raise money for Weston Park Cancer Charity after his grandparents were treated at our hospital.

“We’re a very a tight-knit family,” said Theo. “I’ve always been close with my nan. She lives on her own, and she’s so independent and determined.

“My grandad lives with his partner, and he’s a bit further away in Brampton. But it’s the same with him; we’ve got a really good relationship, and we can talk about anything.”

Last year was an extremely challenging one for Theo and his family, with his grandparents receiving their cancer diagnoses within the same month.

“My nan and grandad had both had a few aches and pains, but they’re the type to worry about others and not themselves.

“We encouraged them to get checked out, and it’s a good thing we did because they were diagnosed not long after that.”

Theo’s nan started treatment for ovarian cancer, and his grandad for bladder cancer – both under the care of the experts at Weston Park Cancer Centre.

“The staff at the hospital couldn’t have been better,” said Theo. “It might sound strange under the circumstances, but both of my grandparents said how nice of an environment it was at the hospital. Their experience there was so positive, it made me want to give something back.”

Theo signed up for the Great North Run, and has since raised over £650 for Weston Park Cancer Charity.

“For me, one of the hardest things was feeling like I couldn’t do anything to help my grandparents or make the cancer go away.

“This race gave me something to focus on. It made me feel like I was doing something that could help other families in the future.”

Theo’s nan and grandad went through several rounds of chemotherapy before undergoing surgery. Recently, they received the fantastic news that both of their cancers had been treated successfully.

“I was at work when my Nan’s results came back,” said Theo. “I’d been worrying all day, and it felt like I’d been waiting forever.

“Eventually she sent me a message saying that she’d been given the all clear. It was such a relief, it felt like somebody had just taken a very heavy bag off my back!”

“My grandad is now waiting on a few more bits of information, but thankfully his surgeons also managed to remove all of the cancer.”

Theo is now in the final stages of training for his half-marathon and recently ran the Chesterfield 10k in preparation.

“It was a red-hot day, and it was tough. But I managed to complete it in under an hour. I just kept focusing on what I was raising money for, and the crowd really drove me on.”

Theo is one of six Weston Park Cancer Charity runners who will be raising funds through the Great North Run. The money they raise will fund vital research, treatment enhancements, and lifechanging support services.

“You never think it’s going to be you or your family member that receives a cancer diagnosis,” said Theo. “But it can happen to any of us.”

“I hope that the money I’m raising will impact someone else’s life for the better.”

To get involved in a running challenge in support of Weston Park Cancer Charity, visit www.westonpark.org.uk/events.