A retired detective with 31 years of service in the Greater Manchester Police has embarked on an extraordinary challenge to honour his daughter Kerry, who died from a rare cancer.
David South’s daughter, Kerry, an NHS healthcare assistant who worked with stroke patients, died aged 32 after a 22-month journey with a rare sarcoma cancer. David is running 52 half-marathons, one for every week this year, to raise funds and awareness for sarcoma research. Each week, he dedicates one day to running 13.1 miles, the distance of a half-marathon. He once ran 93 laps around a cruise ship deck while sailing across the Bay of Biscay, to fulfil the 13.1 miles for that week.
In February 2022, Kerry South, then 30, began experiencing pain in the back of her neck and upper back, accompanied by night sweats. Initially attributing these symptoms to work stress, Kerry sought medical attention when they persisted. Doctors diagnosed her with pericarditis, an inflammation of the heart’s outer lining, and prescribed intravenous antibiotics. However, Kerry’s symptoms continued for four months. In June 2022, a scan revealed tumours in her heart and lungs. A biopsy confirmed the devastating diagnosis: angiosarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer affecting the lining of blood vessels. Doctors also suspected tumours in her spleen and liver.
Despite the risks to her heart, Kerry opted for chemotherapy in August 2022. The treatment lasted three months and showed promising results, leading to a pause just before Christmas 2022. However, in March 2023, Kerry’s health declined, and a body scan revealed a new tumour in her pelvis. She underwent another round of chemotherapy, which ended in July with signs of tumour shrinkage.
Tragically, in September 2023, Kerry suffered a sudden stroke caused by a previously undiscovered brain tumour. She underwent high-risk surgery to remove part of the brain tumour and then spent time in a stroke unit where she relearned to walk with the aid of a frame. Despite a brief period of improvement, Kerry’s condition deteriorated rapidly on 6 November 2023 and doctors discovered that the tumour in her brain had regrown and the tumours in her lungs had aggressively advanced. Kerry’s journey with cancer ended on 10 November 2023 when she died at the age of 32.
‘Every morning, she would come downstairs with a smile on her face. She didn’t let the cancer define her,’ David, 59, recalls of his late daughter. ‘She wanted to live her life to the best of her ability and she did, fully embracing each day with positivity and sharing fun activities that involved her family and friends, and we are honoured as her parents to have shared the moments we did with her. She was inspirational in displaying incredible positivity in the face of adversity.’
Before her illness, Kerry was incredibly active, enjoying activities like paddle boarding, kayaking, and cycling 40-50 miles with her father. She and David had completed several half-marathons together over the years before her illness, a memory that now fuels his extraordinary tribute.
’She was not only my daughter. She was my best friend,’ David shared, his voice filled with emotion. ‘When she got ill, I was in the fortunate position that I had retired from the police force a few years earlier. My wife also decided to stop working so we could dedicate ourselves to her.’
Grappling with grief and anger after Kerry’s passing, David found solace and purpose in running. ‘For a while early this year, I had a hole that I needed to fill with something,’ he explains. ‘Then, one day while I was running, I remembered that Kerry and I had done several half marathons together, so I decided I would do 52 half-marathons, one for every week of the year, to raise money for research into sarcoma.’
To date, David has completed 36 half-marathons, covering 471 miles and raising £8,500 for sarcoma research. His goal is to complete all 52 by the end of the year, honouring Kerry’s memory with every step.
‘Angiosarcoma is a nasty, horrible cancer,’ David says. ‘By raising awareness and funds for research, I hope to contribute to a future where other families might be spared the pain we’ve endured.’
Dr Sorrel Bickley, Director of Research at Sarcoma UK, said: ‘Stories like Kerry’s underscore the urgent need for more research into rare cancers like angiosarcoma.
‘At Sarcoma UK, we’re currently funding two groundbreaking research projects into angiosarcoma, totalling nearly a quarter of a million pounds. Dr Jun Ishihara’s team at Imperial are creating a “super protein” designed to attract more immune cells into sarcoma tumours, potentially enabling the immune system to fight these aggressive cancers more effectively. Dr Paul Huang at the Institute of Cancer Research is working to personalise treatment for angiosarcoma patients.
‘David’s fundraising efforts directly support this kind of crucial research. Every mile he runs brings us closer to better treatments and outcomes for people affected by sarcoma. We’re profoundly grateful for his dedication and the awareness he’s raising about these rare but devastating cancers.’
Those wishing to support David’s incredible effort can find more information about his fundraising campaign for sarcoma research at: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/David-South2
