A Leominster painter and decorator faced with the stark prospect of having only eight months to live, is holding out the desperate hope that he can live long enough to see his son taking part in one of the nation’s top sporting events.
Sixty-one-year-old Roger Baxter of South Street, Leominster, who claims he has never suffered from an illness before, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia last year.
Doctors have given him a bleak outlook so it is a race against time for Mr Baxter to take his place among the roadside crowds next April when his 19-year-old son Jordan takes part in the 2011 London Marathon.
A former Minster School pupil, Jordan has delayed taking his university place because of his dad’s illness. He has been working part-time at Cadbury’s in Marlbrook, near Leominster, and still hopes to pursue his studies in graphic design.
“Jordan should have gone to university before but he held off because of me,” said Mr Baxter. “He surprised us all when we heard that he was going to run in the London Marathon.”
Jordan has to raise £1,700 to take his place on the starting line on April 14 and his family, including his mother Susan and older brother Dane, 25, keenly hope that Mr Baxter’s tragic story will win support for the Anthony Nolan Trust, a charity focusing on leukaemia and stem cell transplantation.
“We want to raise money for other people,” said Mr Baxter, who worked for Harpers in Leominster for 42 years.
“I’ve never had an illness that kept me off work before, I had an unblemished record, but we’ve had quite a tough time since I received my diagnosis.” While he was undergoing treatment in hospital he learned that his mother had died.
He initially went to his doctor with a persistent cold sore and eventually blood tests revealed his illness.
“I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia, a bad one,” he said.
Mr Baxter received the stark news that he had just eight months to live, though a course of chemotherapy treatment at Cheltenham last year was supposed to have given him 18 months.
“We’ve had no luck with transplants,” he explained. “I’ve now got eight months and obviously I want to be there when my son runs in the London Marathon next April, so we’re booking up soon,” he said.
It’s a fervent hope that he can be there on the day with his family to see Jordan run the challenging course. “It came as a big surprise to know that he had got his name down to do the run,” said Mr Baxter. “I am very touched by this.”
He continued: “He decided he would run for the Anthony Nolan Trust but he’s finding it hard to raise the kind of money he needs.
“He needs to raise £1,700 and we so hope he can get the money,” said Mr Baxter.
He bravely admits he is not in pain as a result of his illness. “But my head goes around because I’m waiting for it to happen; it’s all very strange,” he said. “I just hope I’m still around to watch my son when he runs in London next April.”
Anyone who would like to help Jordan achieve his aim can call (01568) 613645.