Two devoted Midlothian siblings are taking part in a touching tribute for their dad who was diagnosed with blood cancer after suffering extreme back pain and struggling to eat his Christmas dinner.
Emer and Kealan Delaney are taking part in the Edinburgh Marathon and Half Marathon to fund new treatments for myeloma after their dad Jim was given the shock diagnosis in 2020.
There had been subtle signs Jim’s health was suffering when he began to lose weight and experience significant fatigue. However, it all came to a head when he struggled to eat his Christmas dinner.
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Jim then started suffering from unbearable back pain. The siblings, from Straiton, are hoping to raise at least £1,500 for Myeloma UK, a charity close to their hearts since their dad’s diagnosis.
Emer, 27, said: “We noticed he was losing weight and he was quite sleepy, but the real kicker was his back pain and him not eating his favourite foods during the festive period. We knew something was wrong.
“One of the first things we did when he was diagnosed was Google myeloma and it was very helpful to find Myeloma UK and to have resources to help us understand it and break it down. I want to raise money for Myeloma UK, I want to prove to myself that I can do it and I want my dad to be proud of me. You get one life and why not do it?
Jim started to suffer from back pain and could not eat his favourite foods at Christmas. -Credit:Myeloma UK
“The hope is if he relapses again, there will be other treatments, new options for him to have a good quality of life.”
Jim, from Edinburgh, had not been himself for some time, Emer recalled. By December 2019 he had lost weight and was unusually tired and experiencing severe back pain.
After going to see his GP and some back and forth appointments, he was booked in for a blood test. The family got a worried call from the GP soon after, telling Jim to get to the hospital as soon as possible.
He was diagnosed with myeloma in January 2020, aged 61.
“It was a bit of a shock,” said Emer. “My dad was out for a walk one day when the phone rang and it was the GP saying he needed to go to the hospital ASAP. I had to phone my parents and say, ‘Something is wrong’. He was diagnosed quickly.
“The healthcare professionals were all quite shocked he was even able to go for a walk because the myeloma was very advanced. That sums up the type of person my dad is.”
Emer and Kealan Delaney with their parents. -Credit:Myeloma UK
Jim, now 66, had chemotherapy followed by a stem cell transplant. Unfortunately, his cancer came back last year and he had to start treatment again. He also received a second stem cell transplant to try and keep the cancer at bay.
Thankfully Jim is now stable.
“He’s back at work and doing amazing and everything that Myeloma UK has provided, all the resources and booklets, have just made what was a daunting experience much more comfortable,” Emer continued.
Her brother Kealan, 31, said: “After seeing my sister do such a great job last year at the half marathon and raising an amazing amount for Myeloma UK, I was inspired to take on the challenge for such a great cause.
“I’m running this half marathon in tribute to my dad and everyone affected by myeloma. It’s not just about crossing the finish line, it’s about showing strength, raising awareness, and supporting the incredible work of this charity. Every step I take is for him and the fight he’s facing with courage every day.”
“My dad truly is my hero. I’ve never met a man who can remain so positive and show such determination every single day. He’s the sort of person that would have undergone the most horrific of treatments and would never complain and ask about your day instead.
“He would do anything for anyone and always has a smile on his face whilst doing so. This Is for you Dad, keep fighting the good fight.”
After running the Edinburgh Half Marathon last year for Myeloma UK, Emer knew she had it in her to complete the full marathon this time around. Inspired by her efforts her brother signed up to the half.
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Emer said: “Before the Edinburgh Half Marathon last year, I’d done no running at all. Now I’m doing my first full marathon – it’s been a journey. Over the last few weeks, the training has gotten more challenging, but, when I’m running, I tend to think about the challenges my dad has faced in and out of hospital, and his courageous nature to carry on.
“We are a very close family and are so lucky to have one another and good support networks who have kept us going and keep us positive. My dad himself has run marathons, so when it gets a bit tough I think, ‘Well, I want to be like him, I want him to be proud of me and if he can sit through lengthy treatments, then I can absolutely run a marathon for him.”
Myeloma is an incurable blood cancer that occurs in the bone marrow and affects more than 33,000 people in the UK. There are over 2,300 people living with myeloma in Scotland.
Despite being the third most common type of blood cancer, myeloma is difficult to detect as symptoms are often linked to general ageing or minor conditions. While it is incurable, myeloma is treatable in the majority of cases.
According to charity Myeloma UK, over a third of people with myeloma attend at least three appointments at their GP practice before getting a diagnosis.
To support Emer and Kealan go to https://www.justgiving.com/page/kealan-and-emer-edinburghmarathon
For more information about myeloma or to get in touch with Myeloma UK go to www.myeloma.org.uk. Myeloma UK runs a free Infoline on 0800 980 3332.