TWO Kilkeel men are preparing to take on a very different type of journey as they raise funds for charity. Friends Sam Campbell and George Fisher (pictured) are two cancer warriors who plan side-by-side, and with the help of friends and loved ones, to raise as much as they can for Cancer Research UK when they set off in a vintage tractor on a 131-mile journey to the other side of Ireland. Using a 1961 Fordson Dexta, the men will travel from Kilkeel to Killybegs in County Donegal for their Coast 2 Coast 4 Cancer fundraiser.
They start from Kilkeel Harbour on 22 July. Both men have undergone treatment for cancer and supported each other throughout. In early 2015, George was diagnosed with Lymphoplasmacytic Lymphoma. He started treatment which didn’t have the desired result and after a couple of treatments, was referred for blood exchange treatment. This greatly improved his condition and he then received several more courses of Chemotherapy. He finished that round of treatments in October 2015 and was in remission until 2019. Then, he needed more care and subsequently received further treatments lasting six months, which have kept him in good health to the present day.
In April 2021, Sam was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Within three weeks of diagnosis, he had surgery and follow-up investigations confirmed he required chemotherapy as the cancer had spread. In May of last year he was advised that the best way forward was surgical removal of the tumour. However, due to its position, the operations would be a very delicate and difficult one which had to be carried out at The Royal Marsden in London. He had successful surgery there 12 months ago, which also involved an unscheduled removal of a kidney. In November 2022, he had 25 sessions of radiotherapy. At the start of this year, it was confirmed that he had carcinoma in situ in the bladder and he started improved his condition and he then received several more courses of Chemotherapy. He finished that round of treatments in October 2015 and was in remission until 2019. Then, he needed more care and subsequently received further treatments lasting six months, which have kept him in good health to the present day.
In April 2021, Sam was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Within three weeks of diagnosis, he had surgery and follow-up investigations confirmed he required chemotherapy as the cancer had spread. In May of last year he was advised that the best way forward was surgical removal of the tumour. However, due to its position, the operations would be a very delicate and difficult one which had to be carried out at The Royal Marsden in London. He had successful surgery there 12 months ago, which also involved an unscheduled removal of a kidney.
In November 2022, he had 25 sessions of radiotherapy. At the start of this year, it was confirmed that he had carcinoma in situ in the bladder and he started treatment for it within days of diagnosis. This treatment is ongoing. Currently, with the help of their wives and families, they are putting in place the final plans for their route and sharing the details of their plan and why it is so important to them personally. Sam and George are asking locals to support their efforts by making a donation, sharing details of how donations can be made online and even coming out along their route, once finalised, to cheer them along the way.
George has no doubt that the care he received and the improvement in his condition can be directly attributed to medical research and donations of blood platelets. Likewise, Sam has absolutely no doubt that the health he enjoys today following the care and treatment he has received is the direct result of clinical research. “This is why we have chosen to raise money for Cancer Research UK,” explained George. “Although our cancers are very different, the common factor is that advancements in cancer treatment, whether chemotherapy, surgery, medicines, scans etc all are a result of ongoing research.” Sam revealed they have a dream of raising £10,000 and, with online donations currently sitting at just shy of £3,000, thanked everyone who has supported them, and not just financially, to date. “We plan to approach mainly businesses for sponsorship, the mind-set being that to a trading business with a reasonable turnover, £100 is not an overly substantial sum. It is a tank of diesel in a van, or a set of ink cartridges for an office printer.
If we can get one hundred businesses to donate £100, we have £10,000 and that is our target,” he added. If you would like to make a donation, and to keep up to date with their progress, visit https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk .org/page/samuels-giving-page2110.