Multi-marathon runner devotes his life to charity in memory of mum, dad and brother lost to cancer

HAVING a family member struck by cancer is, sadly, all too common.

But East Kilbride man Campbell McDougall saw his mum, dad and brother hit by three different cancers.

His mum and brother lost their battles quickly, while his dad’s treatment saw him in remission in his later days.

Instead of being bitter as well as fearful for his own future, Campbell has thrown himself into helping others affected by cancer.

“I want to remember them the way they were and feel that they’d be proud of the work I do,” said Campbell, the charity champion at Scottish Power, which has a partnership with Cancer Research UK that has raised millions.

Keen runner Campbell, one of five boys, lost his beloved older brother John first.

“We realised there was something wrong one day when we were out for a training run,” said Campbell.

“He just couldn’t get that breath, that push that he’d normally have. I said it was probably nothing but that he should get it checked out by the doctor.

“Within hours he was in Hairmyres hospital being treated for acute myeloid leukaemia as abnormalities showed up in his white blood cells.

“He was a strong man, a real fighter, and he survived for about 15 months. He was only 41.”

Although Campbell’s grandmother had died of cancer, he hadn’t really known her and John’s death was his first shocking experience.

But while he and the family were getting over one loss, they were hit by another hammer blow when mum Cathy was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“I think it was something she hid from us,” revealed Campbell. “There had been signs but she’d ignored them and tried to carry on.

“So, by the time it was spotted she had just a few months left to live.

“It was 20 years ago when there was a feeling that cancer was a death sentence and there was maybe a sense of denial and not admitting to it.

“Hopefully that is something that’s changed.”

The family once again rallied round, being strong for Cathy whose own strength was an inspiration for them.

But they were tested within a couple of years when their dad, also John, was found to have bowel cancer.

“Because of what he had gone through with mum, he acted very quickly when he thought he had a problem,” said Campbell.

Swift action and repeated procedures saw John go into remission and he survived until he died at the age of 92 in 2013. In all of the cases, Campbell felt he was limited in what he could do and how he could help.

But he reckoned that he and wife Karen, who also works for Scottish Power, could try to help others and he has been one of the most active participants in the energy giant’s charity partnership.

Initially launched in 2012 with the aim of raising £5 million, it raised £15m in five years and the tie-up has just been extended until 2021.

Campbell has completed 14 marathons and he reckons he has one more in his legs, the New York Marathon, for which he is hoping to be accepted.

He also supports other events and says seeing the positivity of those involved gives him belief that cancer will one day be beaten.

And he refuses to be downbeat following his own circumstances.

“Look, it if was the same cancer striking down everyone I might feel differently but it was three separate cancers,” adds Campbell.

“So I do get regularly checked – I just had my last blood test all-clear a few weeks ago – and I feel just fine.”