Category: Fundraising

A HUGE congratulations Danielle, and thank you for choosing to support the OPA!

“I am very proud to have completed the TCS London Marathon 2025 and fundraised for the OPA. 

In 2022, I was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer and underwent curative treatment which involved 5 weeks chemoradiation followed by an oesophagectomy. 

I ran before I had cancer and needed a challenge to regain my fitness to a level close to before I was ill. I was thrilled when the OPA chose me to fundraise for them and represent them at the London Marathon. The OPA’s literature on eating and nutrition after cancer surgery and resources and information on recovery were really helpful to my own recovery and this charity will remain forever close to my heart. 

Having a really good reason to run motivated me through the training and fundraising. I organised a fun run with a raffle for my Scout group where I am a leader. I got married in February and my husband Paul and I had a guess the first dance songsweep stake. I got local newspapers to write about my journey to spread awareness of oesophageal cancer. I really enjoyed the process and  even the longer 20mile + training runs. 

It’s always been an ambition of mine to run the London Marathon and the weekend of the marathon was really emotional. I’d just reached my fundraising target before the weekend and I felt good having raised all that money for a good cause. I fulfilled a dream to run among the crowds and see all the famous London landmarks and I felt really grateful to have survived the cancer and still be fit and healthy enough to do this. The atmosphere was amazing and my favourite part was when a DJ along the route played the YMCA and all the runners and supporters did the arm actions! The first half of the marathon felt really good but I tired in the second half as it was a really hot day but the crowd energy and determination to finish got me through the second half. I was so happy to see my husband and my kids at the 25 mile mark cheering me on and being proud of me and then have the most iconic section of the run to complete with the London Eye, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and the Mall to run down. I managed a heel kick down the finishing straight to celebrate too. I will never forget this experience.

Thank you OPA for giving me the opportunity to run the London Marathon. A really big thank you to everyone who supported me and helped with my training and the upper GI at St James Hospital Leeds who gave me such excellent treatment and who were really supportive of my running and advised me on nutrition and hydration to help me run after my oesophagectomy. It’s a slow long recovery but you can have a good life and do amazing things after this cancer treatment. We need more of the population to be aware of symptoms so it can be caught at early stage for treatment. Keep up the good work, OPA xxxx”- Danielle 

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Click here to view Danielle’s Fundraising Page
“My Story

On the 27th April 2025 I will run the TCS London Marathon to raise funds for the Oesophageal Patients’ Association (OPA) to repay their kindness for supporting me during my own cancer treatment and recovery and to help them raise vital funds to provide emotional support and dietetic advice to people living with oesophageal cancer and to spread awareness of this cruel condition.

My connection to Oesophageal Cancer and Running

I began running in 2016 and love the physical and mental challenge of it. I started from running parkrun and built up my fitness to run the Manchester Marathon in autumn 2021. At the peak of my fitness in May 2022, I was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer completely out of the blue after noticing a change in my swallow.  It was devastating as I have no family history and no explanation why I came to have a 6cm squamous cell carcinoma tumour in my mid-oesophagus. Waiting for the results of the diagnostic scans and MDT reviews was the most fraught and anxious time of my life. Running helped me through this: it was no longer about training to get faster times or run further, my goal was to stay fit for treatment and to look after my mental health.  Thankfully, I had been diagnosed early before there was any spread and qualified for curative treatment. I had chemo and radiotherapy in summer 2022 which was brutal – I suffered radiation induced oesophagitis and could no longer eat or drink so needed a feeding tube for nutrition and hydration and morphine to manage my pain. I kept active and the swelling and pain reduced after 6 weeks so I was able to complete The Great North Run in September 2022 with an NG tube 10 days before I had my Ivor Lewis oesophagectomy.  I had to hang up my running shoes for a few months to heal from the massive procedure, relearn to eat and get enough nutrition and rebuild my strength to be able to run again. Getting back to running has helped me regain fitness and motivate me, when I improve at running I know my body is healthy. It has been a frustrating and long recovery at times but I am now heathy enough to have run a half marathon again and my times at other distances are getting quicker and close to where I was pre-surgery. My team at the hospital are amazed with my recovery and were so happy for me when I brought them my GNR 2024 medal to clinic to show them. The hospital dieticians are thrilled to be giving sports nutrition advice to a cancer survivor too! I am ready for this marathon challenge!

My recovery has been so positive thanks to my wonderful partner Paul and my children; my friends, work and Scout group; cancer support groups; the incredible team at St James’ hospital, Leeds; and many wonderful charities like the OPA who have provided me with information and support along the journey. At the start of the surgical recovery, I was given a lot of reading material by the OPA which helped me so much when I was learning to eat again. The OPA card that informs restaurants of my limited stomach capacity or that I might need to use their disabled toilets was so helpful to me. When I received an email from the OPA in October looking for people to run TCS London Marathon 2025 for them who had ambition to run the distance, had a personal connection to oesophageal cancer and who would be committed to fundraising, I felt that I would be a great candidate for this and I am thrilled that they have chosen me to run for them and hope to raise them lots of funds! 

Please support me on my run and fundraising for my cause. If you are able, please sponsor me any amount is gratefully received but I understand times are hard so if that’s not possible then keep encouraging me as I keep building up my mileage and please share this page and spread some information which may lead to a life-saving early diagnosis for someone else. Not all oesophageal patients are as fortunate as me. :’(

Thank you for visiting my fundraising page and for your support

Danielle xx”

An update from Danielle - 3 weeks to go!

I am writing to update you on my marathon training and fundraising. With less than 3 weeks to go I have completed my longest run of 24 miles. I’ve gone a bit further than some runners because of the oesophagectomy so I wanted to check I can keep hydrated and well fuelled.  I am ready for the race and looking forward to it. 

I have raised 93% of my £2000 target and am confident to have that in full before the day. I’ve done some awareness of oesophageal cancer at my work, at my scout group and within my local community. In Scouts we did a fun run and I designed a sew on badge.

http://www.southleedslife.com/cancer-survivor-danielle-to-run-the-london-marathon

http://bit.ly/DanielleOPA 

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“I decided to run the Brighton Marathon to raise as much money as possible for OPA cancer charity following my dad’s diagnosis of oesophageal cancer in August last year. The past year has been incredibly difficult for my family. My dad has been facing tough treatments with incredible strength, and I wanted to do my part to help.

 

It has blown my mind how much we have raised for the charity – over four thousand pounds! Friends and family have really come together to donate and share over social media.  My dad is well known and loved in the local community and this shows in the number of people who have donated.

 

I never thought I would ever run a marathon! I wasn’t very sporty in school and only started running the last couple of years. This was my first marathon and I’m glad I chose Brighton and to support such a worthwhile charity. It was a great weekend with uplifting crowds all along the course. The sunshine came out which was lovely to see but it was very difficult to run in! I really hope the money I have raised can make a difference.” – Nick Winter

 

“We lost my dad in 2020 to Oesophageal cancer after a short battle.

I hadn’t previously heard of this type of cancer and don’t think it is spoken about enough despite being one of the most common cancers worldwide.

I’m fundraising for the OPA to help them raise awareness and support other families going through similar situations we had with my dad” – Alice Riley

If you would like to support Alice in her fundraising, please click here to view her Just Giving page.

“I completed the race in 2hrs 37mins. I’ve never ran further than 10 mile and only ever ran 10 mile once before so I’m really happy I managed to get through the whole race without stopping! The last half was tough but the support of local people and other people participating was fantastic, it really kept us going & I obviously kept reminding myself I was doing it for the OPA charity and for dad too”
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“I ran in memory of one of my oldest friends, Paul Greaves that passed away last March (2024). Around Christmas last year he got a bad back and by the time he was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer that had spread, it was too late to save him.  He left a wife and 3 daughters and they nominated the charity after the support they received during this difficult time.  Committing to this really focused my training and after never running more than 1km before 2023, I was up at 5.30am training 5 times a week.

I completed the Hong Kong Standard Chartered Half marathon in under two and a half hours which was my target and I’m grateful to everyone that supported and sponsored me along the way.” – Andrew Woodfine

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Thank you so much to Caitlin Strong, who is running the Great North Run on behalf of the OPA Cancer Charity, in memory of her Dad.

“I set myself a goal of doing 30 new things before I turn 30. After, watching on the side lines last year I thought I’d give the Great North Run a go. When I didn’t make the first ballot for the GNR – I changed it from running 13.1 mile run to a 3 mile run (a big difference I know!) When the January ballot came out, I thought I’d give it a second go, little did I know this time round I’d get a ‘Yes you’re in!’ email – that’s when it sunk in.

I’m not a runner, but I’m determined to train and complete the GNR in memory of my Dad, George who lost his life to oesophageal cancer in July 2022. It was a short battle as he was only diagnosed in the February. At the time we didn’t really know much about that type of cancer, which is why I want to raise money and awareness for OPA. My dad was a very sporty person when he was younger and I think he’d be proud of me for accepting the challenge to complete a half marathon! I don’t have a set time, the most important thing for me is crossing the finish line! What will keep me going is reminding myself of the reasons why I decided to run the race and who I am running for.” – Caitlin Strong

Click here to support Caitlin’s Fundraising

“The Aintree Half Marathon run, well I think the images speak for themselves on that one 🤣.

Then the 100 mile bike ride with my husband James, my top with Vals on the front I bought that because it had my dad’s name on it, felt fitting to wear it even though it didn’t really fit me🤣. We got lost on that bike ride but persevered and made our way back to the finish line with our own 100 mile improvised route, we were that late back that everyone had packed up and gone home. But we pushed on with my dad watching over us probably laughing as he did🤣.

Then there was the Manchester half Marathon. I felt I needed to make it as ridiculous as I could and did, it was hard but the vibe from the crowd and fellow runners was inspiring, As was the Aintree half marathon, the marshals, fellow runners and spectators all made it that bit easier, and gave me that extra push when I was flagging.

A lot of it was a comedy of errors or even just pure comedy gold. But the beauty is not only did it give me a platform to give some rhyme or reason to my dad being inflicted with the horrible thing that is oesophagus cancer, but it also gave other people a platform to be able to do something for my Dad. But most importantly it brought people together making new memories, while having many laughs with my dads infectious cheeky, fun spirit being right there with us. Not forgetting hopefully raising awareness and a little money along the way.” – Karen Ryan

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A GREAT DAY FOR A NOBLE CAUSE (aka Snowy’s special day)

My name is Ryan McGrory. My dad, Daniel McGrory was diagnosed with Oesophageal cancer 13 years ago. He called a family meeting with my mum Margaret, sister Suzanne and brother Adam. Naturally, we were all devasted, and frightened.

In stepped the most wonderful man ever to walk into our families’ lives. Mr Grant Fullarton. He was assigned as consultant to my dad. Grant performed lifesaving surgery, cut the cancer out of his oesophagus and re-attached his oesophagus to his stomach. A very invasive procedure and an incredible feat of achievement. When it comes to oesophageal cancer, we knew the chances of survival were small. Miraculously, Grant’s intervention saved my dads life.

My dad’s key message to everyone reading this:

“It was only the fact I got lucky with an early diagnosis after having real difficulty swallowing that Mr Grant Fullarton my consultant could operate. Most of the time with oesophageal, the cancer is too far progressed to operate. I encourage anyone with difficulty swallowing, a sensation that the food isn’t going down into the stomach, to make an appointment with their GP and speak to them about it. Early diagnosis could just save your life.”

I have many good friends whose family members have not been so lucky. Cancer is an insidious disease that devastates families. All we can do is try to support the people that are working hard every day to not only find a cure, but also to support families dealing with it.

That’s where the Oesophageal Patients Association (OPA) come in. What wonderful work Drew and the whole organisation are doing, dedicating their time and energy to raising funds, placing themselves at the forefront of the battle against oesophageal and gastric cancers. This is noble work that Mr Fullarton told us about. I wanted to help the cause!

I arranged a charity golf day in my work, Aviva, to raise money through the fees to play golf, a raffle and a silent auction of some key items. I was humbled by people’s support. Immediately people started handing me bottles of expensive champagnes, whisky, fancy gins among other thoughtful and wonderful prizes and it was clear how many hearts were being touched.  

Other colleagues arranged for things like a signed football top from John Hartson the ex-Celtic player, who signed it himself to raise funds for the OPA. This was sold at silent auction for a lot of money. Celtic Football club donated a football in a beautiful case signed by all the players and manager. Rangers Football Club also got involved, kindly donating a tour of the museum among other incredible things.

We, in Glasgow, are acutely aware of the bitter rivalry between these 2 clubs, so it was humbling to see the dividing wall come tumbling down in the city that we love.  

When it comes to the fight against cancer, then, we are all just human beings. The disease does not discriminate by football team, postcode, social standing, financial status, colour, creed or anything else.

Drew at the OPA donated hampers and M&S vouchers & beautiful OPA teddies among lots of other lovely prizes. My health club & gym, David Lloyd, also got involved, donating a free membership, a 4-ball golf day and furnished me with a dozen laminated day passes for me to present to all the key helpers at the golf after dinner speech. My friend donated classes for his Shukokai Karate Club in Glasgow.

My direct and extended family (special mention to my Auntie Betty & Uncle Billy McGraw for their amazing generosity) and friends all made donations to the Just Giving page (link below) I set up to raise even more money and donated wonderful gifts for the raffle. It was like a scene out of a superhero movie!

Cancer Warriors, ASSEMBLE!

The whole golf day was a huge success from start to finish, ending up in ‘The Post’ bar in Calderbank Glasgow that my friend John Hickey arranged (his local!), where we all played pool, danced to music on the juke box and drew the raffle winners. What an amazing night everyone had, along with some touching moments remembering those we have lost to this disease.

The result? – We raised a total of £6185!

At the outset, OPA asked me what my target amount was. I said £2k. To TREBLE this was such an incredible moment. We owe a HUGE THANK YOU to AVIVA… who very kindly £ matched the £3k we raised, helping us to get to the £6k result.

This money will go a long way to helping the OPA in supporting families who are suffering at the hands of this horrible disease. Throughout this journey some people mentioned having had some similar symptoms & they will get checked by their doctor, so we have very importantly raised awareness too.

This has been a one-year long journey I will never forget. We live in a world containing a lot of negativities, where some members of humanity are doing horrible things to one another.

This positive experience gave me some much-needed proof that there is a lot of good in the world. So many good human beings. It was truly uplifting. My family is eternally grateful to Grant and his team that my dad is here to see this, and we say a prayer for those that sadly aren’t. Those that live in our hearts never die.

Thanks everyone, I wish you all good health on your journey, because one thing life has taught me – your health is priceless.

Ryan

& If you would like to donate to the cause the page is still open! Link:

https://www.justgiving.com/page/ryan-mcgrory-1724801181481?utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=page%2Fryan-mcgrory-1724801181481&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=pfp-email

PS If you were wondering about Snowy’s special day, it’s a children’s story my dad used to read to me when I was a kid, about a wee white rabbit that had the perfect day! This was my perfect day.”

Me on my perch for the week!
Me on my perch for the week!
Whatta result!😊
Whatta result!😊
We raised Awareness UK wide during Aviva Week!!
We raised Awareness UK wide during Aviva Week!!
My wee sis Suzanne (left) also works for Aviva! Stepping up!! Super saleswoman!
My wee sis Suzanne (left) also works for Aviva! Stepping up!! Super saleswoman!
Big Bad John (Hartson) done us proud!!
Big Bad John (Hartson) done us proud!!
Big Bad John (Hartson) done us proud!!
Big Bad John (Hartson) done us proud!!
Big Bad John (Hartson) done us proud!!
Big Bad John (Hartson) done us proud!!
Big Bad John (Hartson) done us proud!!
Big Bad John (Hartson) done us proud!!
Big Bad John (Hickey!) A great support from start to finish! Thanks John 😊
Big Bad John (Hickey!) A great support from start to finish! Thanks John 😊
Rangers memorabilia!
Rangers memorabilia!
Selling raffle tickets like hot cakes!!! Burning through books! Had to back to the shop for more books!!!!!
Selling raffle tickets like hot cakes!!! Burning through books! Had to back to the shop for more books!!!!!
More helpers! AND – FAST SALES VIA DIGITAL! QR Code straight to JG Page!
More helpers! AND – FAST SALES VIA DIGITAL! QR Code straight to JG Page!
More helpers! AND – FAST SALES VIA DIGITAL! QR Code straight to JG Page!
More helpers! AND – FAST SALES VIA DIGITAL! QR Code straight to JG Page!
A great day in nature!
A great day in nature!
A great day in nature!
A great day in nature!
A GREAT night!! We have a winner!! My boss won the shades!! (My boss is not this man! This man is Faz the man Fairlie the legend from the Fair City of Perthshire!)
A GREAT night!! We have a winner!! My boss won the shades!! (My boss is not this man! This man is Faz the man Fairlie the legend from the Fair City of Perthshire!)
My wee bro Adam multi-tasking!! Balancing Guinness and Raffle duties. Skillz! 😊 Thanks for all your help and for being there, brother 😉
My wee bro Adam multi-tasking!! Balancing Guinness and Raffle duties. Skillz! 😊 Thanks for all your help and for being there, brother 😉
The big Trophies presentation! Winning Team, Long Drive and Closest to the Hole!
The big Trophies presentation! Winning Team, Long Drive and Closest to the Hole!
(I didn’t win by the way.. I was just presenting it to these lovely people hah)
(I didn’t win by the way.. I was just presenting it to these lovely people hah)
Last but not least.. Dan The Man & my lovely mum Margaret: Thanks for all your encouragement and support mum & dad 😊 My Dad thanks everyone involved from start to finish. He was touched by everyone’s kindness and generosity. It’s been emotional!
Last but not least.. Dan The Man & my lovely mum Margaret: Thanks for all your encouragement and support mum & dad 😊 My Dad thanks everyone involved from start to finish. He was touched by everyone’s kindness and generosity. It’s been emotional!
Thank you all, look after yourself! 😊 • Drops the mic
Thank you all, look after yourself! 😊 • Drops the mic

For Paul Greaves

Andrew (Woody) is planning to complete his first ever half-marathon in memory of one of his oldest and dearest friends who was sadly lost to oesophageal cancer.  Paul was a great friend, husband and father.  He was with his wife Lucy  for 24 years and they had 3 girls and 3 dogs, this was his world. He was a man who just loved his family, and was happy with life. He had an amazing sense of humour, he had lived his life to the fullest, experienced so much fun and so many laughs.  He had good friends and he and Lucy were looking forward to spending the rest of their lives together, they were not just partners but best friends.

Around Christmas last year he got a bad back and by the time he was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer that had spread, it was too late to save him. We lost him in March after a terribly brutal illness. He kept his strength and sense of humour until the last moment.  For Andrew (Woody) to run in support of OPA means so much to the family, and it would have meant the world to him, as we want to think that other families in our position and in the position Paul was in will benefit from much needed support they offer.  Paul is missed everyday, he was a brilliant husband and Dad, and was loved so much it can’t be measured, life for his family is now lived alongside his memory instead of alongside him, but they try to make him proud along the way. They are very grateful that others will hear his story, and that he is not forgotten.

Andrew has always hated running and drunkenly agreed to take part in to Standard Chartered Half Marathon in Hong Kong.  After agreeing to do it, he enrolled hoping he wouldn’t  make the cut but he did.  Running for Paul is the only thing motivating him to get up at 5.30am every morning and train 5 times a week.  At the moment he’s only managed 10k but still has 2 months training.  Any sponsorship will be greatly received for a great cause.

Take a look and support Andrew’s Just Giving page here.

I’m pleased to say myself and my brother Lee completed the Barrows and Downs trail marathon in Salisbury on Saturday the 12th October. 

It was very very tough, both mentally and physically, but thoughts and memories of Danny got us both through it. 

We wanted to raise money for OPA in memory of our brother in law Danny Gamble. Danny passed away in August last year after a short battle with Oesophageal cancer. 

Danny was only in his mid 40s, with a devoted wife Vicki, a 14 year old son Arthur, and an 11 year old daughter Betsy. A month before his diagnosis, Danny was fit and healthy, playing football and working as a builder, before he started to feel very ill. 

Within two weeks of his diagnosis, Danny was taken from us, we only just had enough time to say goodbye. 

Danny was a cheeky chappy, full of charm and banter. He was also very kind and compassionate. We therefore wanted to do something to celebrate his life, and raise money towards a charity that helps people and families that go through the same thing, with hopefully a different outcome. 

Including gift aid we have raised £2656.25 through our justgiving page, some of this was also raised as a result of our charity football match in honour of Danny on the 15th September

Thank you

Ellen 

“In February 2019, my dad, Rich, was diagnosed with Oesophageal cancer. At the time, Dad described it as a “bolt from the blue” and hearing the ‘C’ word (not that one…) felt huge. His main symptom had been hiccups. He’d been going to the doctors for about a year being given various pills and potions to try and get rid of his hiccups before his diagnosis.

Following his diagnosis, and thanks to our wonderful NHS, Dad went through years of chemotherapy, immunotherapy research drug trials, radiotherapy & a huge operation, which gave him a couple of impressive shark-bite style scars. He approached his diagnosis and treatment with a brave, positive mental attitude. He didn’t let it grind him down and he continued to say yes to every opportunity and new experience whilst he could.

We sadly lost Dad in December 2023. He did so well for so long and his positivity was incredible. He was the best Dad and I feel very lucky that we had him in our lives for the time that we did. We are now adjusting to our lives with a dad-shaped hole in it and we miss him beyond belief.

OPA are one of the fantastic charities that helped my Dad and for that, I am very grateful.

My best friend, Faye, and I decided to run the Bristol Half Marathon and thought it would be a good way to raise money for OPA. Together our friends and families managed to raise over £1300 and it was such a great day! We had a picture of my dad on our backs & the support from the crowds and fellow runners (not sure I can call myself that!) was incredible! It was 23° and absolutely sweltering but so worth it!!”

– Rosie Murrell

More images can be found on Rosie’s Gallery Page – https://oldsite.opa.org.uk/news/portfolio-item/rosie-murrell-bristol-half-marathon/