Bedford site manager tackles London Marathon after run-in with cancer

A site manager from Bedford had a special reason to run the London Marathon.

Sean Howard tackled the 26-mile run earlier this month to raise money for Cancer Research UK after being diagnosed with cancer himself earlier this year.

The 30-year-old, who is site manager at Bellway’s Brook View development in Wixams, had surgery to remove a tumour from his abdomen just 11 days after the cancer was diagnosed.

He had a scan in June which showed no sign of the cancer, but he is being lined up for radiotherapy in December.

Sean said: “I have been really lucky. I went into hospital complaining of stomach pains last November and after a series of tests and a biopsy they diagnosed cancer on January 14. Just 11 days later I was in hospital having surgery. The doctors told me they thought they had managed to remove all of the tumour.

“It was great news that the scan was all-clear and I am feeling very positive but I know I am not out of the woods yet.”

Sean got his place to run the London Marathon after an email was sent out at work in May.

He said: “Cancer Research UK is Bellway’s nominated charity and they had a spare invitation left to allow one person to run the London Marathon on their behalf.

“They asked if anyone wanted to take part in the marathon to raise money for them. I applied for the place and the next day found out I had been chosen.

“I jumped at the chance to tackle the London Marathon for CRUK as I am so grateful for the brilliant treatment I have received since I got the shock diagnosis in January. This is my way of trying to pay something back albeit in a small way. If I can help in the fight against cancer then I feel I must do that.”

Sean trained hard but had never run a full marathon before.

He said: “I had run a few half marathons and I ran 20 miles at the Bedford Running Festival in September, so I got the training in.

“On the day, things went well until the 20th mile when I was sick. It was not what I had planned for but my running mate Craig Thompson got me going again and I finished in a time of five hours 28 minutes.

“I have raised £4,220 which Bellway has generously matched meaning my fundraising total will be more than £8,000.”

Paul Smits, managing director of Bellway Northern Homes Counties, said: “We were all shocked to hear of Sean’s diagnosis. It is really inspiring to see him not only getting on with work normally but tackling a full marathon.

“This was a tremendous effort by Sean and we are delighted that Bellway Group has agreed to match his fundraising total to help him raise an even greater sum for the charity’s vital work.”