Wirral mum urges women to join Race for Life after son's cancer 'hell' (From Wirral Globe)

Wirral mum urges women to join Race for Life after son's cancer 'hell'

8:20am Sunday 7th February 2010

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A WIRRAL woman whose son was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer is urging women to take part in this year’s Race for Life.

Ethan Richardson from Prenton was just two years old when he became ill in 2007 and was later diagnosed with clear cell sarcoma.

Thanks to lifesaving treatment, he is now on the road to recovery.

His mother Helen, 27, has been chosen to start this year's race in Birkenhead Park on Sunday, July 4, and wants as many women as possible to take part.

She took part in the event last year and told the Globe: “It’s a bit of an honour to be asked to launch this year’s Race For Life.

The last few years have been hellish. It was a shock when Ethan was diagnosed and there were times when we didn’t know if he would survive.

“Thanks to research, Ethan is still here. I am so grateful for the treatment that saved his life. Success stories like his would not be possible without the work of Cancer Research UK, which in turn relies on everyone who raises money through Race for Life.”

In spring 2007, Ethan's stomach swelled and despite repeated visits to the GP, Helen and husband John were unable to find out what was wrong.

By November that year, Ethan was regularly vomiting, would not eat and was not sleeping.

They were referred to Arrowe Park Hospital, where it was first thought Ethan had a twisted bowel or hernia.

Further tests revealed a large tumour in his stomach. He was sent to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, but doctors still remained unsure of the type of cancer he had.

His biopsy results were sent all over the world to be checked by top cancer consultants before a doctor in London confirmed Ethan had clear cell sarcoma.

The team at Alder Hey had only seen three cases of a tumour of this type in 25 years, because clear cell sarcoma does not normally develop as a solid tumour. Ethan underwent very high doses of chemotherapy treatment for three days every three weeks.

In January 2008, he had a kidney and the tumour removed and his family was warned that if he caught an infection it could be prove fatal. Ethan is lucky to be alive after he, his mum and siblings all caught chicken pox.

The tumour removed from his stomach was the size of an adult size eight shoe and is believed to have been growing for about seven months. Ethan’s chemotherapy treatment continued until October 2008.

He has not received treatment since then, but the next two years are crucial to ensure he remains cancer-free and he has check-ups every three months. Ethan is now enjoying life at St Paul’s Primary School in Beechwood with big sister Lucy.

Helen, who works for her local branch of Asda, took part in her first ever Race for Life event at Birkenhead Park last summer.

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life 2010 is the UK’s largest women-only fundraising event series. Last year, 5139 women took part in Wirral’s Race for Life and helped raise £208,000 - which made it one of the most successful events in the region.

This year, Cancer Research UK is encouraging 5000 women to take part in the Wirral event and hit a fundraising target of £186,000.

Race for Life started in 1994. At the time, many people diagnosed with cancer did not survive. But over the last 16 years, money generated by Race for Life has supported Cancer Research UK’s work and now the overall death rate for the disease has dropped by 15 per cent.

Organisers hope that 5,000 women will take part in the morning race, which covers a distance of five kilometres and starts at 11am, and raise £186,000.

They also want 1,000 women to take part in the 10k race and raise £40,000. So far 267 women have signed up for the 5k race and 59 have put their names on the list for the 10k event.

To enter, click on the link below or telephone 0871 641 1111.

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