Sunderland cancer battler completes charity running challenge with days to spare

A cancer battler has successfully completed his charity running challenge with days to spare.
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Fifty-one-year-old Roger Miller, who was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in November of last year, joined Cancer Research UK’s Run 56 Miles Challenge after an operation was delayed by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and initially hoped to raise £350 by averaging two miles a day throughout February.

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Roger, a former pupil at Sunderland’s Hill View, Southmoor and Bede schools, was “overwhelmed” by their support and used it as inspiration to ensure that he completed the challenge by Wednesday, February 24.

Roger Miller, originally from Sunderland, has thanked supporters for helping him smash his original charity running target before he even took a step.Roger Miller, originally from Sunderland, has thanked supporters for helping him smash his original charity running target before he even took a step.
Roger Miller, originally from Sunderland, has thanked supporters for helping him smash his original charity running target before he even took a step.

He said afterwards: “I want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has supported me.

"Everyone has been so generous and they have all inspired me to make sure I finished the challenge.

"What struck a chord was people telling me about members of their families who have had cancer and I felt as though I was running for all of them.”

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How 'fantastic' supporters helped Sunderland cancer battler smash charity run ta...
Roger Miller is pictured at the end of this charity running challenge in aid of Cancer Research UK.Roger Miller is pictured at the end of this charity running challenge in aid of Cancer Research UK.
Roger Miller is pictured at the end of this charity running challenge in aid of Cancer Research UK.
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The fire safety manager, who now lives in London with his partner and their four children, may have finished even earlier if it was not for tricky winter weather in the second week of the month.

Roger, who is originally from the Tunstall area of Sunderland, said: “There were a couple of days where it was just too dangerous to go out running and so I had to use them as rest days.”

A keen runner and cyclist before his diagnosis, Roger hopes to embark on another charity challenge after undergoing surgery later this year.

He added: “I have a date in March for another MRI scan and I am hoping surgery will take place in April or May.

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"I am responding really well to the treatment I have received so far so everything seems to be heading in the right direction.”

Donations towards the appeal can still be made until March 7 via his Roger Miller Facebook page.

Further details about the Cancer Research UK challenge are also available at www.cancerresearchuk.org/run56challenge-faqs

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