A man who lost both his grandparents to cancer has set himself a gruelling challenge to raise money for charity in their memory.
Stuart Thompson, of Durham, was profoundly affected when he lost both his grandparents to cancer, with Covid restrictions also affecting his families long distance support from Australia.
He has already completed three of the five ultra-challenges and has now decided to double his donation target for Macmillan to £10,000 after smashing his original total with two challenges still to complete.
In June, Stu completed the Northumbrian Iron Man Ultra Triathlon involving swimming 2.4 miles, cycling 112 miles, and running 26.2 miles. He finished a creditable tenth over all out of 200 who took part, and second in his male senior category.
“What I’m putting myself through is nothing in comparison to what so many people who are affected by or living with cancer are going through right now,” he said.
This success followed hot on the heels of the two previous challenges scaling the famous Three Peaks of Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon in 24 hours. He also completed the Coast to Coast cycle challenge over two days in April.
Read more: Family's heartbreak after Darlington dad's tragic death at 47
Stu, 38, is the eldest of four with both his parents, originally from Durham, now living in Australia, and works as a deputy director at Durham University.
He said: “We lost my grandparents Valerie and Fred three years ago quite suddenly. She went into hospital for something unrelated and discovered she had colon cancer which then quickly spread to her liver and we lost her within a few short months at 82 years old.
“This understandably had a devastating effect on my grandad Fred, they had been married for 60 years. He then had the misfortune to slip and break his hip days before he was supposed to fly to Australia and whilst he was in hospital, they discovered he had advanced bowel cancer and he too died shortly after.
“Macmillan nurses, palliative teams and healthcare assistants really helped support in this difficult period with pain relief, advice and additional care in the home and the hospital.
“It meant Covid restrictions and cancer hit my family hard, my mam was able to fly back for my grandma and then attend her funeral but because of the restrictions couldn’t get back to help my grandad or be at his funeral.”
In 2021 Stu realised after watching the Olympics that he wanted to do something to honour his grandparents, raise money for Macmillan who had been a support during his grandparents’ cancer journeys and be in solidarity with all those affected by and living cancer.
Next up is the hundred holes of golf on July 26 before a 980-mile Ride Across Britain in September.
To donate to Stu’s fundraiser visit: Stuart Thompson is fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support (justgiving.com)
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