Congratulations and thank you to this pair of super fundraisers!
Nicole and Sean Geraghty.
Despite not being a runner nor a gym goer, Nicole was determined to complete the David Goggin’s challenge and run 4 miles every 4 hours for 48 hours.
With grit and determination she and her husband Sean completed their challenge on 5th March 2022. It was gruelling from start to finish but the pain of their last year pushed Nicole through and the thought of raising money and helping another family faced with the horrendous news that a loved one is terminally ill, was enough to drive her to the finish.
Nicole wanted to highlight the circumstances of her dad’s case which illustrate why our early diagnosis campaign is so important to saving lives in the future.
Nicole’s father, George Paskin, was 56 years old. He was fit and healthy, regularly played football, ran in his spare time, never smoked and rarely drank.
In September 2020 George first contacted his GP as he had a persistent cough. 9 weeks later George was sent for an X Ray where they found a shadow in his lungs.
He was diagnosed with stage IV terminal lung cancer and told he could have 4 months to a year to live. Despite the diagnosis he kept his spirits up, staying positive and gave it all his fight while still managing to be his usual daft joking self.
Initially it appeared that his treatment was working but everyday he endured constant coughing. This was during lockdown and he was too vulnerable for his family to be near him other than doorstop shopping drop offs and watching the grandkids play in the back garden.
In February he had a seizure, was taken into hospital and found out that the cancer had spread to his brain. His condition rapidly worsened and after 5 days in hospital, fighting like a warrior, he sadly passed away without his family around his bedside.
Nicole’s aim in helping our charity is to raise awareness and prompt GP’s to investigate symptoms in patients who present with persistent coughs, chest and back pain and to make a chest x ray a regular routine check.
Nicole and Sean have raised in excess of £4500 in George’s name for EGFR Positive UK.
In Sean’s words as they finished the challenge ’what an achievement and experience’. Quite so, you are both amazing!