‘This has to be destiny surely?’
PROSTATE Cancer UK’s Virgin Money London Marathon legacy has gone the extra mile – after one of the charity’s balloons made an incredible 280-mile pilgrimage to a man affected by the disease in the Netherlands.
Eric Adolfs, 55, was stunned on Thursday morning when he looked out of the window over breakfast and saw a balloon gently bobbing against his car in his driveway. On closer inspection, he found the Prostate Cancer UK branding which struck a chord after rekindling his own battle against the disease just a fortnight earlier.
Adolfs, a logistics teacher, from Doetinchem, had been deflated by the news some 18 months after having his prostate removed, but the father-of-four believes fate has now intervened as he faces up to the deadly opponent.
“It was crazy. I was in my kitchen doing what I usually do in the morning, making tea, and I saw this big object bobbing next to my car. It was only when I went out to check I realised what it was and saw the Prostate Cancer UK branding.
“My first instinct was it was fate. I had my prostate removed 18 months ago, but just two weeks ago my doctor told me my levels had started to rise again.
“I’m not a religious man but it has to be destiny, surely? It made me feel okay. It made me feel well. My wife Anita was really emotional first of all, but she believes this is a sign. This has really cheered us up.”
Among the Prostate Cancer UK paraphernalia along the London Marathon course were several supersized balloons, especially utilised during the charity’s flagship events and attached to railings at Prostate Cancer UK cheer points in Shadwell and Mudchute.
And while weary runners enjoyed a well-earned breather after 26.2 miles in the searing sunshine, one stray white inflatable made a dash for safety and completed the equivalent of a further nine and a half marathons, crossing the North Sea, before settling in Doetinchem, close to the German border.
“We live on the outskirts of town so all we see outside is cows, trees and farmland, so finding the balloon amazed me,” added Eric, who immediately emailed the Prostate Cancer UK press office following his one-in-a-million discovery.
“My father had four brothers. One of them died of prostate cancer, two of them died with it, and one has survived for 20 years. My dad was the only one not to get it, but leukaemia got him.
“Cancer is among us all. We talk about it regularly, and I know my three sons are at risk.”
The balloon now has pride of place in the Adolfs home and keen cyclist Eric, whose only previous trip to Greater London saw him take on a job interview in Maidenhead, is hoping to link up with the charity’s Football to Amsterdam bike ride in early June.
“It’s sitting in our front room at the moment. My wife cleaned it as it’s a bit dirty but I will keep it as a good sign that there are a lot of people worrying about this kind of cancer and working on a cure.
“And I heard about the bike ride too. That would be great to catch up. Lets’ see.”
Andy Sallnow, head of events at Prostate Cancer UK said: “Last Sunday we had over 160 inspirational runners taking part in the London Marathon, raising money and taking action to fight prostate cancer. Following this, it was incredible and wonderful to hear from Eric, who himself is fighting prostate cancer, that one of our balloons from the Marathon had reached him in Holland. To hear that it helps him to cope knowing that there are people all over the planet who are raising money to fight this disease is really inspiring.
“Prostate cancer is a disease which affects men all over the world, and the key research breakthroughs that we are searching for and fundraising for are the same no matter where you are fighting it. I’d like to thank Eric for getting in contact and helping remind us of this.
“In another twist of fate, one of our most successful events is actually a cycling ride to Holland, our Football to Amsterdam ride and our riders have raised almost £2m over the past six years. As he’s a keen cyclist we’ll be in touch with Eric to see if he fancies joining us in June.
“I’d like to thank everyone who raises money for prostate cancer research wherever they are on the globe. We are so close to getting the diagnostic tools and treatments that we need to make this a disease men no longer need to fear. Together we can beat this.”
Many people are unaware that prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. For the first time, the number of men dying from prostate cancer every year has overtaken the number of women dying from breast cancer, making prostate cancer the third biggest cancer killer in the UK.
For more information about the charity‘s work visit www.prostatecanceruk.org/.