Cancer patient does 100th parkrun after transplant

A blood cancer patient has celebrated running his 100th parkrun, a year to the day after he had a stem cell transplant.

John Osborn from Paignton was supported to do the run by staff at Torbay Hospital, where he has been in a clinical trial offering patients more personalised treatment plans.

His diagnosis with myeloma, a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow, came after his back and pelvis started hurting after running.

He had chemotherapy and while recovering from the transplant he realised he was just four runs away from the 100 parkrun milestone. "When I was in hospital I always set goals and was determined to get myself better again," he said.

Myeloma causes cancerous blood cells to accumulate within the bone marrow and stop it working properly. The condition can affect different parts of the body, including the bones, kidneys and immune system.

It is more common in older people and cannot be cured, but there are treatment options available to control the disease, relieve symptoms and increase life expectancy.

Osborn has taken part in a national clinical trial known as Myeloma XV RADAR which tailors care depending on diagnosis and how people respond to initial treatment.

The 65-year-old set himself the goal of achieving the 100 parkrun milestone.

"It was then really a question of building up fitness," he told BBC Devon.

He started running "properly again" in May, gradually rebuilding his fitness to get him back on track at parkrun.

His test results showed there was minimal residual disease and Osborn said "it's the best possible outcome for managing the disease".

He said research "may ultimately find a cure for all this".

"That's why I just keep on setting goals further and further along the line."

He said his 100th parkrun which he did at Torbay Velopark "was amazing". "I was supported by various members of the Torbay hospital team," he said.

"As we got near the line they smiled as I had to run off and sprint over the line as best as I could to celebrate it really."

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