A Kent woman who spent her school days dodging PE is preparing to run 26 miles in memory of her uncle, who died from an ultra-rare cancer.
Eloise Parbutt, from Rainham, is taking part in the TCS London Marathon on 26 April for Andy Bird who had epithelioid sarcoma – there are an average of just 19 cases diagnosed every year in England.
Andy, a project manager from Gillingham, had noticed a lump on his leg in 2021. At first, he thought it was an insect bite but, after being referred to the hospital, he was told he had cancer. The tumour, which grew to the size of a blood orange, was removed, but the cancer had spread to other parts of his body. Andy, who was given radiotherapy, died in March 2024, aged just 55.
Eloise, 28, described Andy as ‘the life and soul of every party, a family guy. He has left a massive hole in our lives’. He even went to Eloise’s wedding in Cyprus in 2023 despite his illness. ‘My uncle was the bravest; he fought so hard and for so long. Every day we miss him so much,’ said Eloise.
His hobby was vintage Lambrettas and he was president of the Medway Aces Scooter Club. For his funeral, a Lambretta was adapted with a flat bed to take Andy to the crematorium.
While he was alive, Andy raised thousands of pounds for charity Sarcoma UK. Eloise, a mother of two who used to be a BA cabin manager, is carrying on those efforts by running a marathon. She will be joined on the course by her sister-in-law Katie and cheered on by family members.
Eloise is in training for the big day but admits she is not a runner: ‘I had a sick note every Tuesday at school when I had to do PE!’
Sarcoma UK’s Chief Executive, Richard Davidson, said: ‘Andy’s story is a heartbreaking reminder of the devastation epithelioid sarcoma can cause, and why our research into this ultra-rare cancer is so urgent. We are funding two important projects that we hope will help change outcomes for future patients. At the Institute of Cancer Research, Dr Paul Huang and his team are building a detailed molecular atlas of epithelioid sarcoma — working with leading cancer centres in Germany and France — to identify new drug targets and help doctors predict which patients will respond to which treatments. Meanwhile, Professor Adrienne Flanagan at University College London is analysing the DNA of epithelioid sarcoma at a whole genome level to better understand why these cancers can behave so aggressively. Together, this research will help bring us closer to the day when families like Andy’s, and the loved ones they leave behind, don’t have to face this diagnosis with so few options available to them. We are incredibly grateful to Eloise for keeping Andy’s legacy alive and for helping fund the research that could one day make a real difference.’
To donate to Eloise, go to https://tinyurl.com/3xmjuzx8
