Denmead dad with kidney cancer chooses to give marathon fundraiser cash to Rowans Hospice

Dave Hill from Denmead was diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney cancer last year after experiencing pain and the disease has also spread to his lungs and bones.

The 54-year-old is currently testing a new drug treatment at Queen Alexandra Hospital after being told he was not eligible for chemotherapy.

Dave, who has a daughter and a stepson, said: ‘If it had been 10 years ago, they would have said Mr Hill you are now just waiting for death but they wanted me to be a guinea pig for a new treatment.

‘I think I was a bit shell-shocked at first but I just thought I have to get on with it and my family have just been dealing with it all with dark humour.’

Family friend David Sparrow, also from Denmead, was left in awe of how Dave was handling his diagnosis and decided to take on a challenge of six half-marathons to raise money for him.

The Surrey veterinary student said: ‘He really is a top bloke and it is horrible that the worst things happen to the best people so I wanted to do something in support of him but Dave being Dave felt the money would be best to go to a charity to help others and so he chose Rowans Hospice.

‘It just shows the type of person he is, that he is thinking of other people at this time who could benefit from the care and support the hospice can give to those who are very ill and their families.’

The 22-year-old has already completed one of his runs and is training between his studies to complete the other five half-marathons and raise £3,000 for the hospice in Purbrook, which is currently trying to raise £7.5m for its Silver Jubilee Appeal to transform its facility.

Dave added: ‘I was humbled that David would want to do such a big gesture. He is so busy learning to be a vet but he really is amazing by doing this on top.

‘Our families have always been so close and it means a lot that we can support Rowans Hospice. I think that a hospice is somewhere I may end up so I wanted to help out my local community and we have also just passed our Golden Retriever as a therapy dog so hopefully that will be something we can do for them as well.’

To donate to David’s half-marathon challenge click here.