Inspired by a good mate from youth with prostate cancer.

Hi my name is Gary Thaddeus, I’m 62 and got the shock of my life when my daughter said she had signed herself, her brother and me, up to do the KEW GARDENS HALF MARATHON ON SUNDAY 30th March 2025. I still play a bit of football but I clearly exaggerated my athletic prowess of former years to them when they were growing up! I completed my only other half marathon in 1985 when I was 22.

I started training in mid February and am hating every minute, my goal was to get through it, never repeat it and I would not have dreamt of asking anyone to sponsor me- UNTIL….a friend who was my best mate at 16 and whom I’d barely seen for 40 years said an incredibly coincidental thing that lit a spark in my brain: I’d heard he had prostate cancer and contacted him and when we met he said he was awaiting critical tests and would let me know. I waited 3 months and on hearing a song from our youth a few weeks ago, felt compelled to message him-Here are some of the words he sent in his reply to me:

Evening Gary , thanks for the message sorry I haven’t contacted you.

Good news Im in remission , it seems the radiotherapy hit the spot . Got to have 6 monthly blood tests which is better than 3 monthly which is what a fella I talk to is going through.

It’s a waiting game and I’ll probably be anxious as blood tests and results get nearer.

This disease doesn’t give you much resting time but support from friends and family will be invaluable.

I’m not unwell , never have been , caught things early.

So you need to do at least one marathon this year to raise money for McMillan, who by the way have been superb, I donate regularly.

….It is amazing because he did not know I was running and has no knowledge of me doing anything at all sporty in the last 4 decades.

I ignored his words for weeks but I can’t any longer. I HAVE A WEEK LEFT AND I AIM TO RAISE £500 IN AID OF MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT.

I am aware that people are frequently being asked to give so I suggest no donation higher than a fiver. £5 Is fine or even a quid!

I HOPE TO GET 100 PEOPLE GIVING A FIVER!

Cheers Gary

below written by MacMillan

every donation will help. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

More information about Macmillan Cancer Support: At Macmillan, we give people with cancer everything we've got. If you're diagnosed, your worries are our worries. We will move mountains to help you live life as fully as you can.

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