THE LOSS of a best friend inspired a Solihull runner to dust off his running trainers and complete the London Marathon at the weekend in aid of Sarcoma UK.
Marc Bozdogan lost Scott – his closest friend of more than 40 years – to Sarcoma cancer following a brave eight-year battle.
A keen runner, Scott would have loved to run the London Marathon. But this dream was taken away from him when diagnosed with Sarcoma, a a cancer which attacks soft tissue and bones.
Despite not being an endurance athlete, Marc set himself the titanic task of going from hero to zero to complete this year’s event.
He completed the marathon in a time of 4hrs, 8mins, and 23 secs while raising more than £3,000 for Sarcoma UK in the process.
Marc said: “I am not any kind of long distance runner at all.
“When I first started training I didn’t have anywhere near the level of fitness or the dedication nor mental attitude that running the London Marathon required. But I was determined to try my hardest.
“I have done what I set out to do which was to raise awareness of this cancer and importantly raise money for Sarcoma UK.”
Sarcoma UK not only supports people and families that have the disease, but also train GPs to be more aware of Sarcoma and equip them with the knowledge to recognise it in the early stages.
Often the cancer is not diagnosed until it is the size of a baked bean tin.
However the diagnosis needs to be when the tumour is smaller than a golf ball to make it treatable.
Despite suffering from an ankle injury in January, Marc pulled all of his mental strength together to complete the course.
He was cheered on by supporters who travelled to London – and Scott’s wife Lorraine was at the finish as he crossed the line.
Marc said: “People have been so generous and supportive.
“Our local pub – The Drum & Monkey at Dorridge – has raised nearly £1,000 and colleagues at work and customers have also given generously which I and Sarcoma UK are very grateful for.”
