Friends of a Marlow man who died from rare cancer will climb over 4,400 feet to the summit of Ben Nevis to raise money for cancer charity Sarcoma UK.
Oliver Rudkins and Matt Silk are scaling Scotland’s tallest mountain, which stands at 4,413 feet, on 28 June in memory of Michael Jeffs, who died from a soft tissue sarcoma in 2022 aged just 28.
Michael was diagnosed in 2017 after he started to get nosebleeds. Medics told him he had a radiation-induced sarcoma that had arisen as a late effect of radiotherapy he had received in childhood. As a baby, Michael had bilateral retinoblastoma – cancer in both eyes. His left eye was removed and replaced with a prosthesis. The right eye was treated using radiotherapy.
In 2018, after chemotherapy and surgery, Michael was told he was free of cancer. Tragically, the cancer returned and spread, and despite further treatment and surgery, in 2020, Michael was told his illness was terminal. He died at home in May 2022.
The climb is part of the 30 for 30 Challenge, which takes place throughout the year to raise funds for Michael’s four chosen charities: Sarcoma UK, Macmillan, Thames Hospice and The Children’s Eye Cancer Trust.
Michael would have turned 30 this year, and his family and friends set up the challenge to honour his memory and benefit the charities that helped him so much. A company run by Michael’s father, Simon, Orange Aero Ltd, based in Thame, has agreed to match whatever funds are raised.
Events that have taken place so far include a skydive, a Tough Mudder, cycling in the Lake District, and cake sales. Upcoming events include a London to Brighton bike ride in September.
Oliver, who worked with Michael at Apple, said: ‘Michael liked hiking and we wanted to do something to raise funds that he would have enjoyed doing himself. Even though his life was cut short, he did more than most people do in a lifetime. He was an inspirational person.’
Michael’s mother Sandra said: ‘Sarcoma is such a brutal disease but Michael learned to live with his cancer and had a full life in his 28 years. As his mum, I can truly say that he was the bravest, most courageous man you could ever meet, and there were only a few days that he didn’t manage to smile or joke. These events aim to make a real difference while remembering the enduring spirit of Michael who we all miss so much.’
Michael wrote a moving blog about his life at https://www.michaeljeffs.com/mystory
Kerry Reeves-Kneip, Director of Communications and Fundraising at Sarcoma UK, said: ‘Anyone who reads Michael’s blog will appreciate that he went through so much – both as a baby and as an adult. Yet he still managed to live a full life in his 28 years and obviously made a huge impression on those who knew him. Sarcoma UK is humbled to be one of the charities to benefit from the challenges being held in his memory. We are committed to honouring his memory by strive to raise public awareness of the signs and symptoms of sarcoma, as well as increase research to improve early detection and create new treatments.’
You can donate to 30 to 30 at https://sponsorme.charitiestrust.org/campaign/fb9c4bb7-1e13-4224-bd17-543f19a30283
