Applecross cancer survivor (71) to run marathon in memory of brother
A RETIRED doctor in his 70s who is one of three siblings to have been diagnosed with prostate cancer will run the Virgin London Marathon on Sunday in memory of his brother who died of the disease.
Gerry McPartlin (71) from Applecross will run his first marathon in 30 years in celebration of his recovery after undergoing surgery, radiotherapy and hormone replacement over the past 18 months.
He decided to take on the “massive undertaking” to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK in tribute to his brother Joe, a former Scottish rugby international, who passed away in October 2013.
Dr McPartlin also hopes his participation will encourage other men in his position to remain active after treatment.
Prostate cancer affects one in eight men in the UK — but that rises to one in three for people who have a family history of the disease.
Dr McPartlin, a former Edinburgh GP, told the Journal yesterday (Thursday) that it is a “no-brainer” for men in their 50s and 60s with close relatives with prostate cancer to get checked by their doctor.
Three out of four brothers in Dr McPartlin’s family have been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
“I’m the youngest of four brothers and my brother George was diagnosed some years ago and he was fine after treatment,” he said. “About three years ago my brother Joe was diagnosed with quite advanced prostate cancer and that woke me up, two of my brothers had it, so I got myself checked and it picked up early stage prostate cancer.”
Dr McPartlin said he was still in good fitness when he was diagnosed and was determined to get through treatment as he felt he had “a lot of mileage left”.
He continued to keep fit by going to the gym two or three times a week and ran a hill race in the middle of his treatment, and now says the chances are he has “got rid of it”.
“I began training for the marathon to celebrate the fact I was in recovery and it has generated a huge amount of interest in the community, which has increased the awareness of prostate cancer, and I think there has been a few more blood tests,” he said.
He is one of three people in the sparsely populated remote peninsula who is taking part in the marathon. He has trained alongside Sarah McCowan, who is supporting Fight for Sight, and Jess Whistance who is running in aid of Venture Trust.
“There are only around 200 folk on the peninsula and there has been quite astonishing support and interest which has been very uplifting,” he said.
Dr McPartlin has upped his fundraising target as donations have come in, and so far has raised £6,400 with the aim of reaching £7,000.
He has set himself the target of completing the 26 miles in under five hours, however his sister Mary is worried about him, and has sponsored him an extra £1 for every minute he runs after four hours, in a bid to get him to slow down.
A small family party in London is planned after the marathon to celebrate his achievement.
Dr McPartlin’s brother Joe, who worked as a school teacher in Oxford, was a “brilliant sportsman” who played rugby for Scotland, Harlequins and Oxford University.
To give a donation visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/ gerrymcpartlin
