Wife of Wearside lung cancer patient embarks on charity mission

That’s the important message a Washington couple want to share as they embark on a fundraising mission.

In May 2013, Paul Bond was diagnosed with the condition despite never having smoked a cigarette in his life.

His wife Nicola, 38, is now aiming to raise as much cash as possible for the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation while educating people about the disease, as November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month.

She said: “I think many people just assume it’s caused by smoking, and they can be quite unfair and they judge you, like you’ve brought it on yourself.

“But with Paul this was never the case. In fact, he has always been very anti-smoking.

“For Paul, it all started with a cough that wouldn’t go away, but because he didn’t fit the stereotype of an average person with lung cancer it took a while to diagnose.

“It is a bit of a mystery of how he’s ended up with it.”

The 38-year-old has spent the last three years undergoing many treatments, including chemotherapy, and is now on new drug trials in a bid to beat the disease.

Mrs Bond wants to raise cash for the charity as it helps people who are directly affected by lung cancer.

In October 2013 she took part in a sky dive and raised £1000.

Then in 2014 she launched a ‘love your lungs’ campaign which saw people sharing pictures on social media which generated a further £500.

So far her latest online fundraising mission stands at £665.

Mrs Bond said: “I am being a bit cheeky really, I am just asking people to donate, but it seems to be working.

“I just think that if we raise enough money for the charity then one day there might be more trials or newer drugs which could help people.”

The foundation is named after popular entertainer Roy Castle, who died in 1994 after being diagnosed with lung cancer two years earlier. A non-smoker, he blamed the effects of passive smoking for his illness.

To donate to the cause visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Lols4lungs16