The 06/04 Challenge (please follow me on Instagram:  dan_604miles)

My father (Peter Nuttall) passed away on 6 April (or 06/04) 2012 and to mark the 10 year anniversary of his death I am taking on a challenge in his memory. Over 12 months I will attempt to complete 604 competitive miles (plus too many training miles to count!) across a variety of disciplines in organised events in the UK and hopefully abroad (depending on Covid travel restrictions). These will involve running, cycling, swimming and kayaking combined with taking on various other obstacles. The events each hold a link/memory to my father and include crossing Wales in five days, becoming a triathlete, completing my first road marathon and running to the top of the highest peak in Wales amongst others. 

My father was a very proud individual and a true warrior fighting and battling the C word in any way he could. I would like to replicate his “Chondrosarcoma Warrior" fighting spirit by taking on this challenge to fund vital research and prevent this nightmare affecting other families. All donations will be provided to Bone Cancer Research Trust Charity https://www.bcrt.org.uk/.

 
The Story

My father passed away aged 52 on 6 April 2012 from a very rare form of Bone Cancer (Chondrosarcoma) which forms from the cartilage of the bone. It's extremely difficult to diagnose as there isn’t a lot of research into this form of sarcoma. It is also very difficult to treat as it's resistant to Chemotherapy, due to this a lot of people, both young and old, have lost the battle with this disease.

Peter was a Senior Warrant officer in the Royal Navy who had back pain in his early 40’s for a number of years that got progressively worse. At first the doctors thought it was an abdominal issue or a problem with his gall bladder, but it got so bad that, in the end, he was constantly bent over double with the pain and could barely walk.

It was only after numerous visits to GPs and hospitals that, in April 2004, an MRI scan at Selly Oak Hospital detected something seriously wrong and they had to operate on a cancerous tumour in his spine straight away otherwise he wouldn’t have been able to walk again. As you can imagine the diagnosis was a great shock, particularly as he had been very fit and active for his whole life. Quickly he underwent a 12 hour operation which involved removing the tumour and implanting titanium supports into his spine. He thought this would be the end of it at the time; it was just the start.

Months later, another MRI scan confirmed the cancer was still there and he was advised to seek proton beam therapy which the UK did not have the facilities for at that time so he was assigned to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston USA.

In December 2004, he flew out to Massachusetts General Hospital where he prepared to undergo the therapy. There were complications and surgeons removed the previous metal supports and implanted a new metal vertebrae in his spine. He then contracted pneumonia and was unable to continue with the proton beam therapy treatment so he returned home.

A couple of years later, in March 2006, he returned to Massachusetts General Hospital to receive the proton beam therapy. He finally thought he was clear of the disease but in 2009 it started to grow again. Over the following three years he underwent six surgical operations to remove the tumour, each had its challenges for us as a family and for his mental health. After each operation he endured learning to walk again and trying to rebuild his life. Then in February 2012 ‘that day’ came and he was told that operations going forward would be too risky; no further surgery could be completed.
He passed away on 6 April 2012. Love you dad xxx

 
Challenge Highlights

-    First 2 day 50 miles trial event (with obstacles) in Cornwall
-    First road marathon (Virtual London Marathon), possibility of finishing the challenge in Boston USA and completing a Marathon
-    5 day event (cycling, running, kayaking) from Bangor (North Wales) to Cardiff (c220 miles)
-    Obtain my personal best for half marathon
-    First open water swim
-    First time road cycling
-    First Sprint Triathlon
-    First Half Ironman 70.3 miles - Weymouth
-    Running up Snowdon (22 miles)

I will be completing a lot of these miles with my trusted running buddy Mark. I would like to thank him for keeping me motivated along the routes and putting up with my bad running techniques (very clumsy), he looks after me and literally picks me up when I fall! 

In addition various family members will be taking part along the way. 

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