Man races Great North Run for wife after her arthritis diagnosis

A man will take part in the Great North Run in place of his wife after she was diagnosed with arthritis – despite being diagnosed with cancer.

Dave Pettitt, 58 and from Crowborough, stepped in when his wife, Becky, had to defer her place two years in a row following her diagnosis.

Four weeks after committing to the run, he received the unexpected diagnosis of stage four bowel cancer.

Mr Pettitt has vowed to be at the start line of the race on Sunday, despite having eight cycles of chemotherapy.

He said: “It’s popped a rather inconvenient bump in my training to say the least.

“My oncology team want me to carry on running and cycling as they were concerned that taking it away would impact my mental health.

“When I am running it’s the only time I focus proactively on sending my cancer a message, it’s not welcome.”

Mrs Pettitt first received her diagnosis four years ago and Versus Arthritis, the charity who her husband is fundraising for, said she went from being able run a marathon in five hours to struggling to walk a kilometre some days.

The couple have been married for 34 years and Mr Pettitt said they are still “enjoying life, but just in a slightly different way”.

Deborah Alsina, chief executive of Versus Arthritis, said: “The Great North Run is an incredible event and every year I am in awe of the dedication and commitment from all those taking it on.

“Dave’s commitment to continue fundraising for Versus Arthritis despite his cancer diagnosis is both admirable and inspiring to us all.”