Suffolk man to visit more than 100 pubs in memory of sister who died from rare cancer

A Suffolk man is preparing to visit more than 100 pubs across Cambridge in memory of his sister, who died from a rare cancer after spending years searching for answers about unexplained pain.

Tom Foddy, from Worlington, will walk 47 miles over two days this weekend as part of a fundraising challenge for Sarcoma UK.

The challenge has been inspired by his sister Samantha, who died in March 2020 aged 36 after being diagnosed with epithelioid haemangioendothelioma, a rare form of sarcoma.

"Half of the people I spoke to hadn't heard of it"

Mr Foddy said his sister first began experiencing symptoms around two years before receiving her diagnosis.

"I'd never heard of it pre my sister getting a sarcoma within her leg," he said. "Half of the people I've spoken to about this and asked for donations and sponsorship haven't heard of sarcoma."

According to Mr Foddy, Samantha underwent a series of investigations after developing persistent pain, with different possible causes explored before doctors eventually identified the cancer.

"The amount of different things that were tried by doctors before they got to the root cause of the issue was staggering really," he said.

He said concerns ranging from hip problems to period pain were considered before a shadow was identified on a scan and further investigations led to a diagnosis.

Raising awareness

Mr Foddy said one of the key reasons for taking on the challenge was to raise awareness of a cancer many people know little about.

"It's almost that unknown cancer which just needs to be visible to people and fully understood," he said.

He believes greater awareness could help people ask the right questions if symptoms persist.

"Just being aware of it makes things and makes you able to ask the right questions when speaking to doctors," he said.

The challenge will see him visit more than 100 pubs across Cambridge over two days.

Mr Foddy, who works in the pub industry, said pubs played an important role in his relationship with his sister.

"Everyone loves a pub and pubs were very much something that me and my sister did go together a lot to," he said. "The fact that I work in the pub industry as well, it was a perfect opportunity not only to raise money for Sarcoma UK, but also to highlight pubs and their value within the community in which they serve."

The challenge is also part of a wider personal mission inspired by conversations he had with Samantha during her final months.

Mr Foddy said the pair created a list of 100 things she would have liked to do.

"One of the things on the bucket list is to raise £100,000," he said. "I'm at number 29 already of this list and almost doing these things for my sister and in memory of my sister."

He hopes the latest challenge will raise £2,500 for Sarcoma UK and help fund research and support for people affected by the disease.

Speaking about what his sister would think of the challenge, he said: "She would have loved the fact that we were raising money for charity."

People wishing to support the fundraiser can donate through the Cambridge Pub to Pub JustGiving page.