“They may not have wings, but the people at Leeds Cancer Centre truly are angels,” says cancer patient Merton

After his cancer diagnosis, the team’s priority was to help Merton regain mobility. Spinal surgery, physiotherapy and ground-breaking treatments made this active man’s greatest wish come true. Can you give hope to more patients like Merton by remembering Leeds Hospitals Charity in your Will?
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Published 25th Jan 2024, 09:26 BST
Updated 25th Jan 2024, 15:22 BST
Leeds Cancer Centre team kept promise to teach active patient to walk again. Picture – suppliedLeeds Cancer Centre team kept promise to teach active patient to walk again. Picture – supplied
Leeds Cancer Centre team kept promise to teach active patient to walk again. Picture – supplied

Waking up from surgery, four rods now inserted into his spine, Merton wasn’t sure if he was in heaven. This surgery was the first major step in what Merton describes as “living cheerfully with cancer”.

“We will teach you to walk again.”

These words from a kind physiotherapist brought tears to Merton’s eyes. And they were right; soon, Merton was able to manage the stairs at home.

“I want the best cancer treatments to be available to patients like me, so I’ve left a gift in my Will; I hope there’s some good that can come from my experience.” Picture – supplied“I want the best cancer treatments to be available to patients like me, so I’ve left a gift in my Will; I hope there’s some good that can come from my experience.” Picture – supplied
“I want the best cancer treatments to be available to patients like me, so I’ve left a gift in my Will; I hope there’s some good that can come from my experience.” Picture – supplied

It’s been over 14 years since this milestone and all that time, Leeds Cancer Centre has helped Merton cope with his cancer. The surgery was just the first in a series of treatments in his journey.

“I’m not going to let the cancer take any of my mental energy. I still have my life to live.”

Interventions such as chemotherapy and several anti-cancer drug trials over the years have enabled Merton to feel OK within himself.

“If there’s some good that comes from them, I can cope,” he said.

His motivations go beyond helping himself, as he hopes this research will benefit other cancer patients too.

That’s also why he’s made the amazing decision to leave a gift to Leeds Hospitals Charity in his Will.

“I want the best cancer treatments to be available to patients like me, so I’ve left a gift in my Will; I hope there’s some good that can come from my experience,” he explains.

Like Merton’s, a gift in your Will to Leeds Hospitals Charity could fund clinical trials that make cancer surgeries safer. Your gift could upgrade crucial equipment at Leeds Cancer Centre – like Limax lasers that are vital in removing tumours, or fluorescence software that enables clinicians to identify cancerous tissue.

Find out more and remember Leeds Hospitals Charity in your Will today.

For more information visit www.leedshospitalscharity.org.uk/legacy

Charity number: 1170369