10,000 steps a day to stamp out late diagnosis
Anthony Smith, from South Shields, is taking on the challenge of walking 10,000 steps every day in June to help raise money and awareness of pancreatic cancer for Pancreatic Cancer Action. What makes this challenge even more inspiring is that he has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer only 2 weeks ago.
Anthony will be walking in his local area, sometimes with the company of his dog, to complete this challenge for the charity as he wants to raise as much awareness of the disease as possible.
The only symptom that Anthony experienced was jaundice, a very common sign of pancreatic cancer, which he went to his GP about as he was concerned. After scans, he was diagnosed in just 48 hours with stage 4 pancreatic cancer which sadly means there is currently no cure for Anthony as the disease was found too late.
Anthony says, “I saw this challenge which I wanted to do for Pancreatic Cancer Action as they focus on awareness of the disease and the symptoms which I think is really important for people to know about.”
“It may be too late for me, my symptoms didn’t show until a few weeks ago, but please help me raise funds to help make PC more detectable in the early stages so that we can help make those survival rates better.”
Pancreatic Cancer Action is committed to working towards earlier diagnosis of the disease so that surgery, currently the only cure, is made available to the sufferer. The charity fund research into early diagnosis, provide medical education programmes, and launch awareness campaigns.
Ali Stunt, Founder of Pancreatic Cancer Action, said: “We are delighted that Anthony has given his time and effort to not only take on this challenge which is truly inspiring to us considering his circumstances.
”We rely solely on donations from the public and thanks to people like Anthony we can continue our vital work. Please back him in his fundraising efforts so that we can continue research into early diagnosis and raise awareness of pancreatic cancer.”
To sponsor Anthony please visit his just giving page here