Ryan walking East Devon Way for FORCE
A young dad from East Devon is about to embark on a four-day fundraising trek, less than a year after cancer surgery left him unable to walk.
Ryan Shaw, 29, will celebrate his recovery from a rare form of the disease by walking the 40-mile length of the East Devon Way.
He is doing it to raise money for FORCE Cancer Charity, which supported him through diagnosis and treatment.
Ryan, who lives in the Coly Valley near Seaton with wife Sammy and son Benjamin, was diagnosed in September with a dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP).
It’s one of the rarest forms of cancer that makes up only 0.05 per cent of all diagnosed forms of the disease.
Shock
He had dismissed a growth on his ankle as a ganglion cyst for years and only pushed for further examination because he wanted to be sure before his baby son was able to walk that there was nothing sinister.
The diagnosis came as a shock and treatment needed to be swift.
He had major surgery lasting five and a half hours to remove the sarcoma from his ankle and reconstruct the area plus muscle and skin grafts.
“Every step of the way, I had support from FORCE nurses and support staff from my bedside to their walk-in centre,” said Ryan.
“They are the only cancer charity I have dealt with that doesn’t feel faceless. FORCE offers the human touch and that is what I needed and what every cancer patient needs. It’s a place where it feels like there are people who care and are there to help,” he added.
Challenge
Ryan was in hospital for three weeks and recalls: “When I was finally able to go home, I was unable to walk without aid, and used a wheelchair to leave the house.
“I had community nurses come every day to redress the wound, and appointments back in hospital twice a week. Then the skin graft died. More antibiotics. Another skin graft four days before Christmas which left me off my feet again.
“And the biggest challenge? Learning to walk again.”
That is why he is challenging himself to complete the East Devon Way in four days, starting on Tuesday (July 18). He’ll walk from Lyme Regis to Exmouth via Colyton, Farway, Sidbury, Aylesbeare Common and Woodbury Common.
Independence
“Having the independence, stamina and strength to disappear off into the local wilderness and walk the many footpaths in the rolling hills and serene greenery have been a huge part of my mental and physical rehabilitation,” said Ryan, former kitchen designer.
“Now I’m recovering and back on my feet, I want to use my story and experience to raise awareness and raise money for an amazing charity.”
He set himself a £300 target but had reached £750 before starting his walk.
July is Sarcoma Awareness Month in the UK and as part of his mission to highlight what he calls the “forgotten cancer” Ryan also shaved his head on Sunday and after his walk he will livestream a scale model painting session to the more than 2,400 followers he has on Instagram.
You can support his fundraising for FORCE at https://www.justgiving.com/page/ryan-shaw-1688149804312
