IT’S TIME TO PLAY DIRTY AS NEW 'RACE FOR LIFE' EVENT LAUNCHES IN DERRY

WOMEN from the North West are being urged to play dirty in the fight against cancer by signing up now for a brand new event from Cancer Research’s Race for Life.

The city has been chosen to host Race for Life 5k and 10k plus Pretty Muddy for the first time on Sunday 16 September, at St Columb's Park.

Race for Life events are non-competitive and participants can choose to walk, jog, or run around the course.

And if you feel like getting down and dirty, why not join Pretty Muddy at 1.00 p.m. on the same day. Pretty Muddy is a women-only, non-competitive 5k and 10k muddy obstacle course - that women of any fitness level can climb over, crawl under and charge through.

A spokesperson for Cancer Research said: "By signing up right now, ladies will be playing their part in beating cancer. Money raised will help drive research to help beat over 200 different types of cancer, so every person, step and penny raised makes a real difference. Every hour, someone in Northern Ireland is told they have cancer and the number diagnosed has now reached 9000 cases per year."

No one is more aware of how important research is than the family of Limavady man Ken Lowry. The father of three and grandfather to two year old Eve, was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the appendix in January 2014.

This cancer is so rare doctors were unable to forecast exactly how the disease could develop, but four years on from his diagnosis, Ken remains positive and refuses to allow it to impact on the joy of everyday family life.

“I was fit and had no symptoms” said Ken “so when I was told I could have a rare form of cancer it hit me like a bombshell.”

Adenocarcinoma rarely shows symptoms and unknown to Ken, he had been living with it for six years before he was diagnosed.

“I just had a niggling pain in the right side of my abdomen, which kept coming and going,” recalls Ken, “ and a series of tests followed by a CT scan showed fluid in my stomach.”

Ken was referred for a biopsy and, as he was feeling so fit and healthy, went for the test on his own, not suspecting for one minute that anything could be seriously wrong.

However, ten days later, when his results were due, Ken was stunned to be told he had a rare form of cancer.

“My wife Clare was with me and when they told us the news, we just looked at each other and couldn’t believe it,” said Ken

Because the cancer is so rare, he had to be referred to a specialist centre at the Hampshire Hospital in Basingstoke England and had to wait three months to get there.

When he finally did see a specialist in March 2014, Ken was told the cancer had spread into the lining of his stomach and was touching several major organs. He faced 10 hours of radical abdominal surgery known as MOAS – mother of all surgery!

“I then underwent an unusual procedure called a ‘hot wash’ which involved flushing my stomach with chemotherapy heated to 43 degrees,” said Ken “and this was horrendous.”

The surgery was a success and doctors were satisfied they had removed all of the disease from Ken’s body, but as a safeguard they recommended systemic chemotherapy, in case any cells remained.

Ken has been receiving regular check-ups and scans in his local hospital which is the New Cancer Centre in Altnagelvin, where his daughter Gemma and sister Jennifer are nurses.

“I had a scan in October 2016 which showed up a small amount of fluid in my abdomen,” said Ken, “However it’s not causing any physical discomfort and my consultants are happy to place me on a ‘watch and wait’ programme. Thankfully follow up scans have showed no change.

“My family are my reason for getting up each morning,” added Ken. “I have been married to Clare for over 30 years and she has been my rock through this very difficult time. She spurs me on.”

Retired football referee Ken faithfully follows the fortunes of his two Irish League footballer sons, Stephen who plays for Linfield and Philip who plays for Crusaders.

He keeps himself busy, volunteering one day a week with his local Meals on Wheels service and also keep fit by walking.

“I have to be strong for my family,” he said “What lies ahead is in the back of your mind, you can’t help that, but you have to get on with life and look forward.”

And he has lots to look forward to as not only will he be cheering the family on at Race for Life in September, he also has a big day to look forward to in August when his daughter Gemma celebrates her wedding to fiancé Paul.

Ken’s wife Clare said the family are excited Race for Life is coming to Derry. “I would urge as many people as possible to register, have a great day out, fight back against this devastating disease and help more families like ours stay together.

“Unfortunately I am unable to take part myself as I suffer from arthritis, but will definitely be cheering the family on.”

Jean Walsh, Cancer Research UK’s spokesperson for Northern Ireland said: “We can’t wait to bring the Race for Life events to Derry for the very first time.

“One in two people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage in their lives, but the good news is more people are surviving the disease now than ever before and Cancer Research UK’s work has been at the heart of that progress.

“However, our life-saving work relies on the public’s support. Thanks to the generosity of its supporters, the charity was able to spend over £3 million last year in Northern Ireland on leading scientific and clinical research - helping more men, women and children survive.

To enter Race for Life visit raceforlife.org or call 0300 123 0770.

Race for Life 5k and 10k - Sunday 16 September at 10.00 a.m. followed by Pretty Muddy at 1.00 p.m.

Venue: St Columb's Park.