A fit and healthy Edinburgh man was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer despite never smoking.
Cameron Millar, 54, who was given the devastating diagnosis of ALK+ non-smokers lung cancer back in January 2020, will join the Balanced team to run the Edinburgh Marathon at the weekend.
Balanced, the physiotherapy clinic based in Stockbridge, has put together a dedicated and passionate team to participate in this year's Edinburgh marathon that will take place over the weekend - Saturday, May 28, and Sunday, May 29. As a part of the team, Cameron will be racing the final leg of the relay.
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Cameron, whose cancer has spread to his liver, kidney, spine, and brain, said: "There are two reasons for me to run the marathon. Firstly, I want to raise awareness about non-smokers lung cancer. It's the seventh biggest cancer out there, but no one's ever heard of it. We need to talk about it more.
"And secondly - because I can. I want to change the stigma of lung cancer. The stigma is that old people and smokers get it, but that is not true at all - young ladies get it too, and people in their 20s who have never smoked."
Cameron is an ex-fund manager but now focuses on charity work and raising awareness on ALK+, which is non-smoking lung cancer that is caused by a faulty gene that mutates.
Fundraising for Maggie's, Cameron, who is on a targeted therapy treatment plan taking chemo pills every day, said: "Maggie's was a charity I knew of before diagnosis. Many people had told me how they had helped in a time of darkness.
"I found myself knocking on their door when I was diagnosed - actually, the door was open and welcoming. Maggie's are brilliant, not just for being able to talk out fears but also for cooking advice - I went full-scale vegan overnight to prepare the body for treatment - and meeting other patients in a relaxed setting."
The Balanced team has already achieved their fundraising goal of £1,500 for Maggie's and is now looking to double the amount.
Ben Brown, a Balanced physiotherapy director, will also join the sporty team of marathon runners this weekend. For ten years up until the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, Ben was delivering free pilates classes for those affected by cancer at Balanced, recognising that their needs differ dramatically from the needs of usual pilates-goers.
Ben, 48, said: "We could've raised funds in a different way, but this is more about a message of triumph for people who should've been able to run.
"What we do at Balanced is helping people to achieve their goals. So we want to take people from being in treatment through the rehab we do at Balanced to the point where they can achieve something greater like that."
When coming up with the idea to run the Edinburgh marathon back in 2020, the physiotherapy clinic wanted to run as two teams - staff and clients - hand in hand. But unfortunately, by the time the pandemic made in-person runs possible again, one of the team members, Lucy Scillitoe, had passed away after her cancer had returned.
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In the loving memory of Lucy, the team decided to stick to the original plan and take on the challenge - but as one team, with Cameron showing great strength joining in.
Praising Cameron, who has been with Balanced as a client for over eight years, Ben said: "Cameron being able to run this might help somebody else feel a little bit better about themselves on a bad day.
"When some of the people are in their darkest hours, being able to look at someone like Cameron, who's doing something quite amazing, might help to get that step to becoming fitter and healthier.
"The run's more about showing people what's possible and making them feel a little more positive about what's ahead."
Reflecting on Cameron's goals, Samantha Lea, centre fundraising manager at Maggie's Edinburgh, said: "Maggie's Edinburgh provides free practical and emotional support to anyone living with a cancer diagnosis, including friends and family.
"We rely almost entirely on donations and are incredibly grateful to everyone who takes part in the Edinburgh Marathon Festival to raise vital funds for us."
You can donate to the fundraiser for Maggie's charity here.
