A Sutton woman will pay tribute to the charity who helped her dying father live long enough to see the birth of her son when she takes on a fundraising walk on Sunday.
Lindsay Sadler, 34, of Worcester Park, is taking on the Marsden March this weekend to help raise funds for the ‘fantastic’ Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
Her father, Roland Coyne, sadly lost his fight with bowel, liver and lung cancer in May last year at the age of 59.
Ms Sadler praised the work of the Sutton Royal Marsden for improving the quality of her father’s life long enough for him to see the birth of her son and support her sister through pregnancy.
She said: “He was absolutely besotted with him and was looking forward to my sister having the last little boy because there are five boys now.
“My sister actually told him in secret the sex of the baby knowing the he wouldn’t see the baby come.
“All the treatment my dad got was pretty much funding based so if the funding wasn’t there then the trials wouldn’t be there.
“When he first got diagnosed we were told he would have about four months and because of the trials they put him on he lasted another 18 months.
“They were so helpful and so informative. We were under Professor David Cunningham and I really can’t speak high enough of the man and his team.
“I just want other families to get the chance to go on other trials and get more treatment so they get more time.”
FAMILY MAN: Much-loved Roland’s friends and family are taking part in the walk
Over the last five years the event has raised an incredible £6.5 million for the Royal Marsden Hospitals in Sutton and Chelsea.
The route will take walkers through Fulham Road, Putney High Street and Wimbledon Common to name a few before finishing at The Royal Marsden hospital in Sutton.
She will be joined by 51 others in her team named ‘Roland’s Revenge’ to take on the 14-mile walk and together they have managed to raise over £4,000 on their just giving page.
Everyone who takes part often share stories of how the hospital has helped them over the years and Ms Sadler believes the walk is a chance to show their appreciation of the work the hospitals do.
She said: “Everyone displays a message on their t-shirts on why they’re doing it so it is quite emotional and this will be the first year my dad won’t be at the end to buy us all a pint.
“The messages can read ‘you saved my dad,’ ‘I lost my dad to this and don’t want anyone else to lose their dad to this’ or ‘they treated me and I’m a survivor.’
“Everyone appreciates having this fantastic hospital on their doorstep so we want to show our support and help keep the research going.”
When walkers make it to the finish line there is a big thank you party for all involved in the event to celebrate with a BBQ, face-painting and live entertainment.
If you’re able to get down and show your support the charity recommend going to Wimbledon Common, King George’s Playing Fields, Nonsuch Park the finish line at The Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton.
