More than 150 patients, survivors, families and medical professionals came together in Swansea last Saturday (22 August) for Sarcoma UK’s first-ever Rare But Real walk in Wales, uniting around a rare cancer that remains largely unknown, even to some in the medical profession.
The walk was opened by the Right Worshipful, the Lord Mayor of the City and County of Swansea, Councillor Penny Matthews, who welcomed walkers to Swansea Cenotaph overlooking Swansea Beach before they set off on a 5km or 10km route along the Swansea Bay coastline.
About 5,900 people in the UK are diagnosed with sarcoma every year, yet awareness of the disease continues to lag behind more common cancers, both among the public and within parts of the medical community.
What made Saturday’s walk special was who turned out for it. Patients and survivors walked alongside relatives, doctors, nurses and researchers, a rare coming together of everyone touched by sarcoma, from those living with the disease to those treating it.
Also speaking at the opening were Welsh sarcoma surgeon Thomas Bragg and popular Welsh opera singer Mark Llewelyn Evans, who both addressed the crowd before the walk got under way.
Sarcoma is a rare form of cancer that can develop in the bone, muscle, fat, blood vessels or other connective tissue, anywhere in the body. Despite affecting thousands of people across the UK every year, awareness, diagnosis and treatment options continue to lag behind those of more common cancers.
Lord Mayor Councillor Penny Matthews said: ‘I was delighted to open Sarcoma UK’s first-ever Rare But Real walk in Wales and welcome everyone to Swansea for this special event. It was inspiring to see so many people coming together to support those affected by sarcoma and help raise awareness of a cancer that too often goes unrecognised. I wish every participant well and thank them for helping to raise sarcoma’s profile so that it is seen, heard and better understood.’
Louisa Morgan, Head of Public Fundraising at Sarcoma UK, said: ‘Bringing Rare But Real to Wales for the first time was a really special moment for us. Sarcoma is a cancer so many people have never even heard of, and that silence has real consequences; it means late diagnoses, it means families feeling alone, it means research going underfunded. Everyone who walked along Swansea Bay on Saturday, whether it was 5km or 10km, helped to break that silence. This wasn’t just a walk; it was Wales standing up and saying sarcoma will not be ignored any longer.’
Sarcoma UK’s message for this year’s walks is simple: most cancer charities ask people to walk. Sarcoma UK is asking people to be seen. Each participant walked with the name of someone they were walking for, whether that’s a loved one lost to sarcoma, someone currently living with the disease, or the wider sarcoma community as a whole.
Participants were encouraged to raise a sponsorship pledge of £100 to support Sarcoma UK’s work funding research, providing support to patients and families, and campaigning for better, faster diagnosis.
