ITV News reporter to run marathon for bowel cancer charity

Kit Wilson-Bradshaw, from Horsham, will be joining thousands of others running the Brighton Marathon - in the city where he met his 31-year-old husband, Laurence, to raise money and awareness for Bowel Cancer UK.

The couple met at Sussex University in a workplace romance at a students’ union in 2012.

Kit said that Laurence often had stomach aches and bloated very quickly after eating, which he thought might have been down to his slim physique.

He said: “In the years and particularly months leading up to his diagnosis, he was complaining more and more of tummy cramps, pains, changes in his bowel habits - which were all annoying him more and more.”

Laurence had been to the GP about a year prior, but his symptoms and concerns were dismissed as irritable bowel syndrome.

After moving, he saw a different GP in April 2019 and was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer.

He soon underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but his cancer returned in spring last year and was incurable as it had spread to his bones.

Kit said: “No one expects that, let alone for that to happen with your partner who you want to spend the rest of your life with and you’re both in your 30s.

Laurence and Kit Wilson-Bradshaw: credit - Laura Debourde (Image: Laura Debourde)

“It’s absolutely terrifying, and really upsetting for Laurence. The pain he has been in, both physically and emotionally, has been really hard for me to watch.

“He was my fiance then, he’s now my husband - it’s really difficult for both of us, but I love him so much and that's what keeps me going to try and do the best for him

“We’re just trying to make the most of the time we have.”

Kit said, while covering the marathon last year, he had no thought that he would end up running the 26.2 mile race himself.

After signing up in January, Kit drafted the help of his sister Holly to join him and help to train him up for the marathon tomorrow.

Kit with sister Holly in training by Brighton Palace Pier

He said: “They say you need around eight weeks to train for a marathon and, if we had decided around a week later, it would have been too short a time, so we just gave ourselves enough time.

“It’s been good fun training, although I have had a few injuries. My knee has failed a couple of times, so that will be my biggest fear on the day.”

Laurence will be among those cheering on Kit as he completes the race tomorrow.

Kit’s fundraiser for Bowel Cancer UK has already raised more than £8,000 for the charity, which Kit said provided support through forums where people in similar situations shared their experiences and advice.

He said: “A forum like that can help connect people and I know Laurence connected with a lot of younger people going through a similar thing, like coping with the different stages of diagnosis.”

Kit hopes to raise more awareness not only of the illness but dismiss the idea that it is an “old person’s disease”.

He said: “Maybe it’s a British polite thing of not wanting to talk about bowels, but it is the second biggest cancer killer in the UK, after lung cancer.”

He also encouraged people to push for support from their doctor if they feel something's not quite right, as early diagnosis makes a huge difference.

He said: “We all know our bodies best and we know what we’re feeling. If you have persistent symptoms that don’t feel right, you have got to be equally persistent with your doctor.

Every year, more than 2,500 people under 50-years-old are diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK, with Bowel Cancer UK running a campaign since 2013 to raise awareness of the symptoms among younger people.

Symptoms of bowel cancer include persistent stomach pains, changing bowel habits, and persistent blood in your poo.

People can donate to Kit’s fundraiser at https://justgiving.com/fundraising/kit-holly-marathon.