To commemorate the tenth anniversary of his father’s death from chondrosarcoma, fitness fanatic Daniel Nuttall is completing a year of challenges to raise vital awareness and vital funds for our work.
He is attempting to clock up an incredible 604 competitive miles (to mark the date of his father's passing on 06 April 2012) over 12 months across a variety of organised sporting activities, from running and cycling to swimming and kayaking.
Daniel's fundraising is well underway, having begun with the Man v Coast Challenge in Cornwall on 3rd July 2021. He is set to end with the same challenge on 2nd July 2022, and in the months in-between he will continue to participate in other activities such as the Ironman 70.3 Weymouth, Ironman 70.3 Staffordshire, Blenheim Palace Triathlon, Wales Coast to Coast, the Great South Run, and several half marathons throughout the year.
But there's no stopping him there! Dan will also be representing #TeamBones when he takes on the iconic London Marathon on 22nd October 2022.
All the sports Dan is undertaking hold a special link to his father, Peter Nuttall, such as becoming a triathlete and competing in his first ever road marathon.
Reflecting on his father's diagnosis, Daniel said:
My father was a very proud individual and a true warrior fighting and battling the C word in any way that he could. I would like to replicate his "Chondrosarcoma Warrior" fighting spirit by taking on his challenge to fund vital research and prevent this nightmare affecting other families.
Peter sadly passed away at the age of 52 after initially being misdiagnosed with abdominal issues. It was only after several visits to his GP and various hospitals that, in April 2004, an MRI scan uncovered a chondrosarcoma tumour on his spine.
He then underwent a 12-hour operation, which involved removing the tumour and placing titanium supports in his back. A routine follow-up MRI scan showed that the cancer was still present, and Peter travelled to Boston, USA for further surgery and proton beam therapy that wasn't yet available in the UK.
Unfortunately, in 2009 the cancer returned and over the following three years he underwent six surgical operations to remove the tumours, with each one requiring Peter to learn to walk again. In February 2012 he was told that further operations were too risky to carry out and he sadly passed away on 6th April 2012.
If you would like to follow the remainder of Daniel's journey and support him, please visit his JustGiving page below: