Why I am running Race for Life: My teammates spotted cancer

Friday, 21 April 2023 01:00

Kevin Lane is running this year's Race for Life after overcoming testicular cancer that his footballing teammates first spotted.

22-years ago, Kevin, who lives in Gillingham, had just met his wife, Donna. The cancer diagnosis meant they had big decisions to make and talk about family before Kevin had surgery to remove a testicle.

They decided to have some of Kevin's sperm frozen, and through IVF, the pair had a son who is now 16.

Kevin is now fit and healthy and raring to go to take part in Salisbury's Race for Life alongside Donna.

Kevin said: "I was playing football, really went into changing rooms, and my testicle was quite large. When I put my clothes back on after playing football, and quite a few people noticed it.

"I went to the doctor and which was quite, quite tough. Straight away, the doctor said you've got testicular cancer."

Donna added: "I absolutely love Race for Life, and I do it because raising money is so important. The research behind cancer is huge; you know, we know that Kev survived because research had moved on.

"They were very clear with us had he been unwell, perhaps five years earlier. The research wasn't there. So it's vital that that research continues.

"And on the flip side, alongside Kev, my mum has survived cancer three times and again down to the research and the medicines that are available.

"So yeah, Race for Life is absolutely vital!" she continued, "And it's vital that money is raised, and I love being part of it. It's an amazing event. It's such an uplifting event when you go all around you read everybody's signs on their back, and everybody's there for a different reason.

"Yeah, it's an amazing event, and I would recommend it to anybody."

You can sign up for Salisbury's Race for Life, there are two distances:

5km - https://raceforlife.cancerresearchuk.org/find-an-event/hudson%27s-field-5k-2023-06-11-1100

10km - https://raceforlife.cancerresearchuk.org/find-an-event/hudson%27s-field-10k-2023-06-11-1000

If you don't feel able to participate, you can also sign up to volunteer here - https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/get-involved/volunteer/event-volunteer-salisbury-race-for-life-11th-june-2023