For two years, doctors had missed a fibrosarcoma cancer, the size of three tennis balls growing inside Dave Thompson’s stomach. After many years of multiple operations and rounds of chemotherapy, he sadly passed away aged 48 – leaving behind a wife, two daughters and a charity he had devoted his final years to. On Sunday, his daughter Jasmine will run the TCS London Marathon in his memory.
When Jasmine Thompson, 28, from Fulham, crosses the finish line of the marathon on 26 April, it will be an emotional moment – ten years on from the death of her father from the rare cancer.
It was in 2003 that Dave Thompson, then aged 36, went to his GP after experiencing persistent stomach pain. He was misdiagnosed by the doctor and, 18 months later, he returned to the GP with the same symptoms and it was only at this stage that he was sent for an initial scan.
Shockingly, this revealed a tumour in his stomach the size of three tennis balls and he was diagnosed with fibrosarcoma in his abdominal wall.
This seemed incomprehensible to Dave and for his close‑knit family; his wife Anjula and daughters Jasmine and Zoe. He was a fit, active man who loved golf, rugby and football, and they lived a full family life in East Finchley.
Jasmine said: ‘He had a major operation which he was not physically or mentally prepared for. There was no information available to him before the operation, and no other patient he could speak to about his experience after the op.’
The tumour was removed but Dave’s ordeal wasn’t over – the cancer returned two years later. This time it had spread to his lungs and, later, his bones. Dave had a series of major operations over several years and received chemotherapy. After a few months of his final rounds of treatment, the family was given the tragic news that it was not working.
Dave, who was a trader, devoted his time remaining to helping other sarcoma patients. By now, the charity Sarcoma UK had been formed and he joined the Board of Trustees in 2014. In that role, he showed enormous commitment and dedication to being a champion for people with this devastating disease. As a sarcoma patient, he didn’t just understand Sarcoma UK’s mission in theory; he lived it.
In addition, he joined Facebook to connect with and support fellow sarcoma patients, creating an online community where people could share experiences and knowledge about the disease.
‘My dad was realistic about the challenges he was facing but always remained positive. He taught me the art of resilience and the need to live life to the fullest,’ said Jasmine, who was navigating a pivotal stage of her life undertaking final school exams at the time. She recalls her father as someone she could confide in about anything, a natural prankster, and a devoted Newcastle United supporter.
She does not blame health professionals for her father’s delayed diagnosis, instead saying that it shows the need to increase early diagnosis and awareness of sarcoma.
Dave died in March 2016 aged 48. Since then, his family has continued his work in supporting the sarcoma community. Having cared for Dave while he was ill, Anjula, a judge, joined Sarcoma UK’s Board of Trustees in 2017 and is now its Chair, while Jasmine and Zoe are key ambassadors for the charity.
Jasmine, who is a change management consultant, said her father’s “journey shaped so much of our lives”. She said: ‘Mum made a conscious choice not to be defined by her grief but to transform it, to channel it into purpose. She turned unimaginable loss into action, dedicating herself to a charity that supports families facing the very same battle. The courage to reshape grief into impact is something I will admire for the rest of my life.’
The family set up the Dave Thompson Fund for Sarcoma UK and it has raised an incredible £500,000 through a variety of events. Having run a couple of half-marathons, Jasmine is now preparing for her first TCS London Marathon on 26 April for Sarcoma UK, which she describes as ‘not just a physical but mental challenge’. She said: ‘It will be emotional and scary but it will be a really poignant way to mark ten years since dad died.’
To donate to Jasmine, go to Jaz Thompson is fundraising for Sarcoma UK
