The finishing line

In our last newsletter we wrote about Johnny Sutton and his son Max about to run the Cirencester half marathon, so we’re really pleased to report back on their success completing the run and raising nearly £13,000 for OOSO to boot!

This was the first ever Cirencester half marathon to be run, set through some of the most scenic Cotswold villages, with hundreds of runners enjoying the only dry and sunny day for weeks.

Most of our regular zoomers will have met Johnny online, who had his cancer diagnosis and oesophagectomy more than 5 years ago, and is doing incredibly well.  Being a young fit guy, he went back to work not long after his Op’ and hasn’t looked back.  Johnny won’t mind me saying he exudes positivity in spades but totally gets what a very close call he had.

Since becoming a member of OOSO Johnny and Caroline have been hugely supportive of our charity, helping others when they can. With regular attendances on our zoom sessions, coming to our BBQs and Forum meetings, Johnny has also represented OOSO at the annual Oxford Gastro Oesophageal Symposium and supporting Lizzy Smyth’s collaborations with researchers as a former patient.

Most memorably in 2021 Johnny’s son Max decided to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for his dad and OOSO raising an incredible £22,000.

The Cirencester half is close to where they live, and an ideal opportunity for the Sutton’s to mark Johnny’s 5-year ‘all clear’, a fitting family celebration with hopefully many more to come.

On their family fundraising page, Max wrote “the 15th of October marks five years since Surgeon Nick Maynard removed Johnny's Oesophagus and a chunk of his stomach and with it, the tumour which was threatening to bring a premature end to his activities on the planet. Thankfully, Nick’s skill, and the care and professionalism of many others has brought Johnny to this 5-year anniversary.  We are running on behalf of the Oxford Oesophageal and Stomach Organisation (OOSO), an extraordinary charity which has helped us all cope with the issues that come with the cancer journey, from diagnosis, to where we are today, 5 years on, and now cured.”

A very special thanks

As well as from us/OOSO, Johnny wants to pass on his very special heartfelt thanks to Caroline, Max and all the family, and their many friends, for their love and support over these difficult few years.