Cancer survivor racks up 250th parkrun

A man who was given six months to live after being diagnosed with terminal cancer has completed his 250th parkrun, 10 years on from his initial diagnosis.

Robin Ford, from Ruddington, Nottinghamshire, was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2016, aged 45, and was told he would most likely not make it to Christmas.

He quickly married his partner, Litza, and underwent two rounds of chemotherapy which shrank the tumour to the point where it could be safely removed, along with parts of his liver and pancreas.

Following surgery, he joined the cancer support movement 5k Your Way and began taking part in parkruns as part of his recovery.

Robin told the BBC he first began noticing symptoms in March 2016.

"I eventually went to the GP, who sent me for a CT scan which found a huge tumour on my kidney," he said.

"I went to see the consultant, who was great, but basically told me it was too big and there was no way they were going to shrink it. He said I probably wouldn't see Christmas.

"I was in shock, but I felt it was all kind of OK. I'm quite stubborn as well, so I didn't really believe it."

But then came the twist.

It turned out he had a Wilms tumour, a rare form of kidney cancer more commonly found in children and babies.

"It was quite unusual and only a few people have it - but it did mean there were chemotherapy options that we could try to shrink it," he said.

"There were three different treatment options and, after six months, one of them managed to start shrinking it."

Robin's tumour was removed along with his kidney, as well as parts of his liver and pancreas. He then faced a long road to recovery.

"I'd lost a lot of weight. I was in a wheelchair because I didn't have the energy to walk around and could hardly get up the stairs," he said.

"My wife persuaded me to use a wheelchair, which helped. It was nice having her pushing me around the park.

"I was just sitting at home and wasn't even meant to do anything hard.

"I had big surgery scars and found a free leaflet for CARE, (Cancer Rehabilitation and Exercise) which is a programme run by the Notts County Foundation at the Portland Centre.

"I met people there who were from Move Against Cancer and, between us, we came up with the idea of doing something at parkrun, just to get cancer patients out and moving.

"So in June 2018, we held our first 5k Your Way parkrun."

Now a regular parkrunner with 250 runs under his belt, Robin has set himself personal targets for the 5km event, improving from an initial time of 45 minutes to 26 minutes.

"I'm hoping to get under 25 minutes one day before I start getting slower again. But I don't mind too much. It's about getting out there. Every time I get there, it's a win," he said.

"I wasn't working straight away afterwards because I was too ill, but I could look forward to something that was in the calendar, and there were always going to be people there that I knew."

Following surgery, Robin's progress was monitored with regular tests for eight years until there were no signs of cancer remaining.

"Ten years ago, I couldn't have imagined doing one parkrun, so 250 is quite amazing. Looking back on all the photos from the last eight years, it's really been lovely.

"I'm just so grateful to all the different people involved in my survival.

"I had a fantastic oncologist called Professor Pulum Patel from the University of Nottingham, and he really helped. He's an incredibly kind, clever and wonderful man.

"He must have saved so many lives, so I owe a huge thanks to him and his team.

"Exercise is really important. Having something to do every month gives you structure during your rehabilitation and in your life."

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