by Gareth Cross
A Derry man is aiming to prove there is life after cancer when he takes on the Waterside Half Marathon next month.
Keith Adair was diagnosed with kidney cancer in July last year and had to have 40% of his kidney removed.
The 48-year-old admitted that the diagnosis was a massive shock and he automatically thought the worst.
However, Keith's surgery proved successful and he was given the all clear in February.
Now he's back running and wants to help people who find themselves in a similar position.
Keith who is from the Foyle Springs area has decided to raise money for the Lighthouse Club which he says helped him cope with his illness.
The Lighthouse Club provides financial and emotional support to people in the construction community and their families who have suffered an injury or long term illness.
Keith said that the diagnosis changed his life 'in the blink of an eye'.
"You could be in the best shape of your life, only to find yourself on your back, unable to stand on your feet," he said.
"That’s exactly how I felt last November. I'd just been through major surgery, I had 40% of my kidney removed and I wasn’t feeling too good.
"I was diagnosed with kidney cancer on the 10th July 2016, I’d been a keen walker for a number of years and most weekends."
He said that he was fit and active before his diagnosis.
"You’d find me walking up and down some mountain so when my results came back positive that I had cancer you could have knocked me down with a feather," said Keith.
"There was so many goals I hadn’t yet completed and I thought now that I had cancer I wouldn’t be able to see them through as you automatically think the worst.
"One of the goals was to complete a marathon as I’d been running 20 odd years and never entered any, not even a half marathon."
Keith worked hard to get back on his feet following his surgery.
"Around Christmas I started to feel better and then in February I had my first scan which was negative, the cancer had been successfully removed," he said.
"By now I had started to walk a little everyday, I slowly built my miles back up to my normal 10 miles everyday.
"One morning in April I parked up at the council buildings, and instead of walking my normal route I jogged it.
"I completed it in 1 hour 53, I can’t describe how happy I felt, it was an amazing feeling."
After his success Keith decided to join Reach Running Club and hasn't looked back.
"I decided to join a running club and I knew someone that was a member of Reach so I thought why not give it a go.
"Having cancer had knocked my confidence, fast forward a few months, I’ve completed my first 10k race, two half marathons and I’m about to run the Waterside Half Marathon.
"I’ve met some really friendly Reachers along the way. The training and advice that the club coaches provide to all members regardless of running experience is second to none.
"The peaceful feeling I get after I run makes it all worth it."
Keith is running the Waterside Half Marathon on September 3rd to raise money for the Lighthouse Club.
"They assisted me throughout my illness and I would like to give something back," he said.
"The Lighthouse Club receive no public funding and rely on the generosity of those within in the industry to help us continue our vital work.
"Shocking statistics show that there is still much work to be done to improve the safety and emotional wellbeing of our construction community, but we can only do that with support.
"I'm going to run in my purple survivors t-shirt I got during the Relay for Life.
"I hope that people can see my doing it and look at my recovery and realise that there is a life after cancer."
To support Keith's fundraising visit www.justgiving.com and search for 'Keith's Waterside Half Marathon'.
If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Derry Now editorial team on 028 7129 6600 for Derry City stories Or 028 7774 3970 for County Derry stories. Or you can email gareth@derrynews.net at any time.
