Walking for Angus Trek to Wales raises funds in teen’s memory
AFTER the death of their son, a family is walking to the Pembrokshire coast to scatter his ashes.
Born on March 28, 2006, Angus Caton was just six when he was first diagnosed with brain cancer. Despite surgery and proton radiotherapy, the cancer returned and, sadly, he lost his life just months after turning 14.
A pupil at Dean Close School in Cheltenham, Angus’s family said that he “fought the cancer with all he had” and “never once complained”.
Now Angus’s dad Alistair, a commercial airline pilot, and John Sutherland, head of PE at Dean Close Prep School, are planning to walk 210 miles from Dean Close to Deer Park in Pembrokeshire, overlooking the Island of Skomer – Angus’s favourite view and where he asked his family to scatter his ashes.
Alistair and Angus’s mum Adele said they were surprised that Angus did not want his ashes scattered in Devon, which is where they spent the majority of their family holidays – but given the Pembrokeshire coast is where his mum is from, they were happy to take him there after he passed away.
His family, including his sister Rosie and brother Rafe, said he loved the beauty of the coast and clarity of the sea air.
Angus was just six in January 2013, when he was diagnosed with a Grade 3 ependymoma brain tumour – a highly malignant tumour of the brain.
However, after a 16-hour operation at Frenchay Hospital, he was chosen for pioneering proton therapy treatment in Jacksonville, Florida, by the NHS.
The six weeks of treatment, five days a week, gave him the best chance of a cure, with minimal damage to his developing brain. His family said that “for six great years, he lived a happy and full life, believing in his bright future” before being re-diagnosed in January 2019.
This time, however, the family discovered that the cancer had spread to the other side of his brain. He went into Bristol Children’s Hospital for another brain surgery, which was followed by six weeks of radiotherapy to his brain and spine, five days a week. Mum Adele said: “At this stage we were advised that it was very likely that Angus’s cancer was terminal, and likely to come back recurrently. But we decided initially not to share this news, so that he could continue to live his dreams for the future.” In December 2019, a tumour was found in Angus’s spine. He went back to hospital for spinal surgery to reduce his risk of paralysis. Another brain tumour was also found on scans, and a week after leaving hospital from the spinal surgery, he went back to have cutting-edge gamma knife radiation treatment to try to destroy it.
Alistair said: “Angus had surgery in January this year on his spinal tumours to stop him being paralysed. He was so brave about it. He had the surgery, got back on his feet and went back to school.
“He was very happy at school, and had aspirations to be an architect. “Angus was always interested in the science of it, but one month later there were more spinal and brain tumours, we always knew it was malignant.”
Adele added: “In March he had another scan which showed multiple more tumours in his brain and symptoms started to develop progressively. After this the doctors said they couldn’t do any more surgery and that’s when we knew it wouldn’t be long.
“The beginning of June was the only time he ever cried throughout all of this, because we finally had to tell him the truth about his prognosis.
“He became paralysed over the space of three days, his walking really deteriorated, and he became paralysed from mid-chest down.”
Alistair and Adele said: “This is when the Clic Sargent charity, oncology nurse, and paediatric community nursing team came into play.
“They supported us with guidance from the paediatric oncology teams in Bristol and Gloucester.”
They said: “That was the point all the nurses and occupational health came. Suddenly the house was full of stuff, the NHS were amazing.”
Angus passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family on June 28, 2020.
His family said that his last weeks were filled with chat and laughter as he was supported by so many family and friends visiting him, even when he no longer had the energy to get up from his bed to his chair.
Although dad Alistair and teacher John will be doing the entirety of the walk, they will be joined by their respective families and Angus’s grandparents, too, as the support group. They will take part every day.
The route will take in the Forest of Dean and go up and over the Brecon Beacons, all to raise money for Clic, which supported Angus from his initial diagnosis through to his final days, and beyond.
CLIC Sargent Young Lives VS Cancer was integral to the support system needed by Angus’s family, who said that they were always there to help via their clinical team and social workers.
Alistair, John and their support teams will leave Dean Close School on Saturday and anticipate getting to Deer Park on August 8.
Rosie and Rafe, who are twins, will walk up Pen y Fan on part of the route as Alistair and Adele want to ensure they are involved as possible.
Adele said: “Many of the comments and cards that we have received since he died have commented on his sense of humour, courage and that he always seemed so happy.”
If you would like to donate, visit the fundraising page at bit.ly/334sq5l