JIM TO GO THE DISTANCE FOR CANDLES
News release
18th August 2011
A 75 year-old Skellingthorpe man who survived throat cancer is pounding the pavement in preparation for a six-hour run to raise money for local charities later this month.
Jim Currie is taking part in the event to raise money for local cancer charity Candles and the radiotherapy unit at Lincoln County Hospital.
The run will take place on a one-mile circuit in Witham Way Country Park in Boston on 28th August at 7.30am.
Candles is a fundraising charity for cancer research founded in 2001 by Pam Connock and Dyllys Firth from Skellingthorpe after they underwent treatment for the disease.
The charity fundraises for Professor Oleg Eremin, based at Lincoln County Hospital, and his research into immunotherapy – an alternative cancer treatment that uses the body’s immune system to fight disease rather than treatments such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Jim said: “I ran the Lincoln 10K in 2010 and didn’t feel very good afterwards but I didn’t think anything of it. I went to my hairdressers the next day and she noticed I had some swelling of the mouth. It turned out her mother had the same problem and she recommended I go to the doctor.
“I saw him the same day and he said he thought I had throat cancer. Once it was confirmed they had to treat me quickly because it was quite progressed but I completed the treatment in August last year.
“When I was on my feet again I went to see a friend who was doing the six-hour run and said I’d be running circles around them this year – jokingly I might add!
“I’m training hard and it’s going well: I’ve managed a four hour run so far. I’m aiming to run 30 miles in the time and I’ve bought myself an iPod Shuffle to cure the boredom.
“I’m looking forward to it but being on my feet for six hours will be hard. I’ll have people there to support me and cheer me on though – and probably some thinking ‘what’s that silly old fool doing’!”
Pam Connock, MBE said: "What Jim is doing is a tremendous effort on his part to raise money and awareness for our cause and for the hospital and we couldn’t be more grateful.
“We hope that people will support Jim in his run and wish him the very best of luck on the day.”
Jim has raised around £500 so far for Candles and the radiotherapy unit at Lincoln County Hospital where he received treatment.
To make a donation visit Jim’s Virgin Money Giving page at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JamesCurrie1 or http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com and search for James Currie.
Notes to Editors
- To date Candles (Registered Charity Number: 1125834) has raised in excess of £500,000 to fund Professor Eremin’s research which is carried out in conjunction with the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham.
- To contact Candles visit the website www.candlescharity.webeden.co.uk or call the founders Pam Connock on 01522 683997 or Dyllys Firth on 01522 685220.
For more information about this news release please contact:
Holly Tyrrell
01522 528540
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