A DAD of four completed the London Marathon four years after being diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.
Gareth Jones completed the race with his wife Juliet to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support after they provided vital support following his stage 4 Lymphoma – a type of blood cancer – diagnosis in 2021.
The Solihull duo raised more than £6,500 for the cancer charity.
The 53-year-old said: “Before we even started training, our journey to the start line has been a challenging one! But we wanted to give hope to others going through tough times; you can come through it and get back to some sense of normality.
“My family and I had to endure some really dark times, including lifesaving emergency surgery, which left me with a temporary stoma. This was successfully reversed later down the line.
“I had tremendous support from Macmillan throughout my treatment. They helped me navigate the huge amount of information available, the emotional impact and the physical toll of 18 months of treatment. Thank you, I hope you know how much of a difference you made!
“Running the London Marathon together is something we have wanted to do for a long time, and this year we celebrate being married 30 years, so now feels like a good time. We hope to raise as much money as possible to support Macmillan’s work so they can help others and guide them through their cancer journey too.”
Following his diagnosis Gareth had 18 months of treatment, including chemotherapy and CAR-T therapy.
These treatments were successful, and Gareth has been cancer-free for two and a half years.
Emma Pound challenge event manager for the London Marathon for Macmillan said: “A huge congratulations to Gareth and Juliet what a fantastic achievement after such a tough time for their family.
“We are so grateful for the support we’ve received in helping us raise precious donations that go toward maintaining valuable services that really make difference to all those living with and affected by cancer.
“If you or anyone you know are affected by cancer and need information, support or just someone to talk to, call 0808 808 00 00 or click here.”
