Teenage cancer survivor set to skydive for charity - The Leamington Observer

Teenage cancer survivor set to skydive for charity

Leamington Editorial 6th May, 2015 Updated: 28th Oct, 2016   0

A TEENAGER from Leamington was given six rounds of treatment for an ear infection before doctors realised he had a rare form of cancer.

Dan O’Regan visited the doctor complaining of severe earache and after intially being treated with antibiotics was given the devastating news he had Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare soft tissue cancer, aged just 16.

After being transferred from Warwick Hospital to the Queen Elizabeth in Birmingham, Dan made it through his gruelling treatment and now he and mum Rebecca are set to take part in a record-breaking skydive.

Dan, now 18, and 50-year-old Rebecca will be taking part in the jump at Hibaldshow Airfield in Lincolnshire in a bid to raise at least £1,000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust.




The jump is in honour of inspirational cancer patient Stephen Sutton who hit the headlines when he raised nearly £5million before sadly succumbing to cancer aged just 19.

To break the record 350 people will need to do a tandem jump at 10,000 feet in one day.


Rebecca said the Trust had provided invaluable support to the family during Dan’s treatment.

She told The Observer: “If Teenage Cancer Trust hadn’t been around Dan’s situation would have been much more difficult as he’d have been in a ward with much older people who would have been going through their own traumas – not really understanding how devastating a cancer diagnosis is for a young person.

“Receiving a cancer diagnosis as a teenager is extremely frightening and aged 16, Dan found it difficult to understand what was happening to him. The Trust unit meant that Dan was treated alongside others in the same situation as him, with expert nurses who cared for Dan and understood the complications and emotions he was going through.

“Dan had a rare cancer and needed specialist treatment –Teenage Cancer Trust looked after the whole family when we really needed it.

“This is a superb opportunity to give something back to an amazing cause.”

Dan, who plays in a band called Myrrh Room and plans to study music at university in 2015, was treated at the QE at the same time as Stephen Sutton.

He said said: “My treatment was extensive and while at the time I was just getting through it – I realise now that without it I might not be here now. Taking part in the Skydive for Stephen will enable me to help others like me, by raising money to support the charity.”

Visit www.justgiving.com/Rebecca-Dan55/ to make a donation.

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