From Survival to the Savannah

From Survival to the Savannah – A Sussex man’s mission to support families living with cancer.

Two years ago, medical experts told Marcos Jarvis there was nothing they could do to stop his advanced liver cancer. But in few days the 47-year-old who has defied the odds, will step out into the South African bush in KwaZulu Natal province and embark on a gruelling 100 mile run over 5 days. With guides and conservationists Marcos will map out the route that will be taken by runners and walkers raising funds for the cancer family support charity WOLO (We Only Live Once).  He’s more than up to the challenge!

“Imagine running with the knowledge there could be anything ahead from spiders and snakes to elephants and giraffes!  We will be covering 20 miles a day in very dry heat so I’m hoping we will get the chance to meet with local people along the route and share their knowledge of survival.”

Marcos is a runner like no other. He used his passion for the sport to take on the disease that threatened to take his life. Two years ago, he was working as a renovation builder and living with his wife Hannah and son Archie in Hailsham, East Sussex. He had just completed a marathon when he was given a devastating diagnosis – stage 4 liver cancer.

“I had 12 tumours on my liver and had 35 rounds of chemotherapy. I made some major changes to my life. I used my running to alleviate the fatigue and nausea and gradually my sickness levels decreased as my fitness improved. There were days when I didn’t want run but I pushed myself through.”