This Lung Cancer Awareness Month, we spoke to 87-year-old Stockport resident Jack Thomas. Jack shares his remarkable story to inspire others and to highlight the vital role of our Charity, which supports the cancer centres that have cared for him throughout his treatment.

Jack was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer in late 2019 after coughing up blood while on a walking holiday in Portugal. Tests at Wythenshawe Hospital’s North West Lung Centre confirmed cancer in the upper lobe of his right lung. “It came as a shock” Jack recalls. “I turned up on my own, not expecting to hear the word cancer. When the doctor shook his head and said it wasn’t good, I was absolutely scared – but I knew I had to face it head-on.”

He underwent surgery in January 2020, followed by chemotherapy and immunotherapy at The Cecelia Unit and The Neil Cliffe Centre at Wythenshawe Hospital. The care and compassion he received inspired him to begin fundraising for Manchester Foundation Trust Charity, which supports the ten hospitals within Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, the largest NHS Trust in the country. The Charity raises funds that go over and above core NHS provision to make a difference for patients and their families. Donations help purchase state-of-the-art equipment, fund pioneering medical research, and create welcoming, friendly environments that allow patients and families to feel at ease during treatment.

“The team at the Cecelia Centre and the Neil Cliffe Centre are just incredible. Over time, I’ve made real friends there, the nurses, the consultants, they all make you feel part of a family.

“On my treatment days I’d go into the unit early and the unit manager, Lesley, would sit down with me, make me a coffee and we’d just talk, not about treatment, but about my life and family. That kindness stays with you; it made me feel a little bit less alone when I was in the hospital.”

When Jack’s initial treatment stopped working, he entered a clinical trial at The Christie and is now on targeted therapy, which is helping to control his cancer. Despite ongoing treatment, he remains determined to stay active. He cycles up to 30 miles a week on his electric bike and walks regularly with friends, believing that staying mobile can make a real difference during cancer treatment.

Earlier this year, Jack turned this passion into a fundraising challenge.
He added: “One day, I saw an advert for a 100km bike challenge and thought it sounded great. Then I realised it was meant to be done all in one go on open roads! I get nervous cycling with cars around, so I initially thought, ‘there’s no way I can do that’.

“But it planted a seed. I decided to try 100km over a week instead and before I knew it, I was pushing myself to do 400km over a month to with a goal to raise £400 for the Cecelia and Neil Cliffe Centres.

The response quickly exceeded Jack’s expectations. He said: “Within a week, I’d already passed my target. People were so generous, even those I barely knew donated. By the time I finished, one of my sons rounded the total up to £4,000. The generosity really overwhelmed me.”

Jack hopes his efforts will inspire others living with lung cancer to find their own way to stay positive and motivated.

“Cancer isn’t one-size-fits-all, but keeping fit and keeping a positive mindset really can make a difference,” he said. “The support from my family and from Manchester Foundation Trust Charity has helped me face my journey. I want others going through this to stay open, keep talking to the people caring for you, and keep looking forward.”