Man swimming 22 miles to raise funds for treating friend’s terminal cancer

A local man is swimming the equivalent length of the English Channel to raise money towards treating a friend’s terminal cancer.

Donal Owen is swimming 1,408 lengths – 22 miles – “as quickly as possible” to raise around £2,000 for Kate Hoyle, 33, of Littleborough, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in March, receiving a terminal diagnosis just a month later.

As Kate was breastfeeding at the time, her symptoms were initially put down to a blocked milk duct.

The mum-of-three is being treated by the NHS using antihormone therapy – which will put her into menopause, preventing hormones from feeding the cancer – and a targeted treatment called Ribociclib.

She is also undergoing a holistic treatment, using weekly vitamin C infusions and hyperbaric oxygen therapy and has found a specialist doctor in Germany who is willing to treat her bone metastases “with an intent to cure.”

Vitamin C – or ascorbic acid – as a cancer treatment has been pioneered since the 1950s, with some studies showing that large doses can kill tumour cells.

However, the Mayo Clinic says these trials were “flawed” whilst Cancer Research UK says the evidence supporting this is “mixed.”

Kate, who has her own dog-walking service, Kate’s Pet Corner, said: “I am accepting the treatment that the NHS is offering me, but it's not with an intent to cure, only manage the cancer. I am determined to be completely cancer free, as I need to be around to support my three boys.

“I have done lots of research and have found a clinic that offers the treatment that I need, which luckily is local. I go there for weekly vitamin C infusions and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Vitamin C [has been shown to] kill cancer stem cells, whereas chemo only kills the fast-dividing cells, hence why cancer often returns. I think this treatment is very important to my healing. It's very expensive.

“I really do believe I can do it. The treatment in Germany costs £4,000 and I’d think I’d need to go every three to four months. I plan to meet him after my first scan results in September. Hopefully, by then, I’ll have the funds.”

She added: “I met a woman at the clinic in Rochdale recently; she's been seeing Professor Vogl in Germany and she's had a 60% reduction on her liver tumour, which the NHS wouldn't operate on. He puts chemo through the main artery directly to the cancer, so that the rest of the body is protected from the damage.”

Donal, who has been swimming the distance at Whitworth Leisure Centre, said: “This news understandably knocked Kate and her family off her feet, but she has chosen to adopt a positive outlook, and will not accept this terminal diagnosis. Kate has now decided to take her health into her own hands, and she fully believes she can beat this.

“She has found a private clinic that can offer her alternative treatment, but this treatment doesn't come cheap at £500+ per week plus travel costs, but it's imperative for her healing. Kate is also looking into surgery and treatment abroad, which again will be costly.

“Initially I thought I'd do it bit by bit over the course of 30 days. However, because time is of the essence and the treatments need to get underway, I've just decided to do it as quickly as I can.

“We are all aware that times are hard, but literally anything you can give will make a difference.”

Donations to support Kate in her treatment – and Donal’s swimming efforts – can be made via JustGiving:

• www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/swimming-for-kate