A 72-year-old Berkshire woman whose daughter has seven rare incurable cancer tumours is preparing to speed walk 26 miles at the TCS London Marathon.
Thalia Milton’s daughter, Natasha McGlinchey, 40, has sarcoma. It took 16 months from the time a lump on the back of her knee was first spotted for her to be referred to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London for an MRI scan. She was then diagnosed with metastatic myxoid liposarcoma, which by then had spread to other parts of her body, including her heart.
Natasha, a former PE teacher, has four of the seven tumours in her heart. She has been receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but her sarcoma, which has continued to spread, is incurable.
Thalia, from Sandhurst, also a retired PE teacher and headteacher, is taking part in the marathon on 21 April for Sarcoma UK. She says: “Natasha is a very positive and determined young lady. She is coping with her diagnosis with such strength, although there are obviously some very dark days.
“As a mum who is desperate to help but cannot do anything other than support and listen, I took part in the Virtual London Marathon in 2021 in Windsor Great Park. This year, I will be trying to speed walk the marathon in London – my knees have seen better times!
“We need more research into sarcoma, so more people know about it and for it to be diagnosed earlier, which is why I am supporting Sarcoma UK.”
Natasha said: “I used to be a PE teacher, I’d do ParkRun every Saturday and was training to be a yoga teacher. I had a very healthy lifestyle. I was doing all the right things. Doctors thought I couldn’t have cancer because I was too young and too healthy.
“We really need more people, including health professionals, to know about sarcoma so that people like me are diagnosed earlier and can get the treatment they need.”
Kerry Reeves-Kneip, Director of Communications and Fundraising at Sarcoma UK, said: “Thalia’s incredible commitment to taking part in the London Marathon at age 72 to raise funds and awareness for sarcoma is truly inspiring. Her daughter Natasha’s story sadly illustrates how sarcoma can go undetected for too long, allowing it to spread before diagnosis and treatment. We desperately need more public awareness of the signs and symptoms of sarcoma cancers, as well as increased research to improve early detection and develop new treatments. We are enormously grateful to Thalia for her extraordinary efforts and determination to make a difference. We will be cheering her on every step of the 26-mile journey.”
To donate to Thalia’s fundraising, visit: Sarcoma UK: Thalia’s page (enthuse.com)
