Netherton dad on a mission to raise £25,000 and stand up to cancer

Adrian Webb was diagnosed with skin cancer in September 2012 after his wife Michelle noticed a mole on his back had changed colour.

The music distribution manager said his wife saved his life as she insisted he had it checked out, something he admits he "would never have done" as he "didn't think anything of it".

He continued: “I remember sitting by myself in my office at work when I got a horrible call from the GP saying 'we’ve got some bad news'.

“I had a huge chunk cut out of my back and I thought that would be that but about 10 days after having the stitches out I discovered a lump under my arm while lifting weights in the gym.

"I phoned the hospital and they performed a biopsy that day.”

Adrian was told the cancer had spread to his lymph glands and he underwent further surgery in February 2013, along with a course of radiotherapy.

But within two months of treatment he received more bad news.

“I went to bed one night and when I woke up I had five big marble-shaped lumps all over my body,” he recalled.

“One was right in the middle of my scar. I knew then it was serious and I phoned the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham straight away.”

The news from the consultant confirmed Adrian’s worst fear as he was told he may have as little as 12 months to live.

Adrian said: “I blubbed like a two-year-old because I thought it was all over. The next two months were the lowest of my life.

“Once I’d stopped blubbing I said 'ok what can you do for me?' That’s when they said that there might be a trial drug option.”

So far Adrian has been given three trial drugs and has been told his cancer has shrunk to a trace.

The 50-year-old said: “We’re in unknown territory now but I’m a very positive person."

The positivity of Adrian and his family has been showcased in a touching video that is now being used as part of Cancer Research UK's Stand Up To Cancer campaign.

In it, Adrian’s son Josh is shown holding up cards explaining that his dad’s cancer had spread to his lungs, spleen, liver, bowel and spine.

The video - which has attracted more than 6,000 views - initially gives the impression that Adrian didn’t make his 50th birthday but the final clips show Adrian walking into shot with cards that state: “Thanks to research… I’m still standing”.

It ends with Adrian hugging his wife and daughter Amelia, aged 19.

Adrian credits trial drugs for keeping him alive and has pledged to raise £25,000 for Cancer Research UK to help others, adding: "I passionately believe that whatever I’m doing can help someone else. “That’s why I want to encourage as many people as possible to unite and join Stand Up To Cancer to help raise as much money as possible.”

To date Adrian has raised more than £14,000 and said he plans to climb the Three Peaks next year: “I’m a bit of a nutter but I have to prove a point that it can be beaten.

"Fighting isn’t the word but this is my life and I’m living with it. I still do exercise and that’s one of my winning tactics.”

His son Josh, aged 22, added: “I’m really proud to be standing up for dad. We’re a really close family so we were all utterly crushed when we got the news he had cancer.

"It’s been a roller coaster ride but thanks to research he’s doing amazingly well. We’re determined to do everything we can to support him and help raise awareness and funds.”

Paula Young, Cancer Research UK’s spokesperson for the West Midlands said: “Adrian is a remarkable character and we are incredibly grateful to him and his family for their support.

“Stand Up To Cancer funds translational research that aims to have a real impact on patients’ lives. “We’ve made amazing progress against cancer in the past few decades.

“Thanks to new treatments, screening and earlier diagnosis, more people are surviving the disease than ever before."

To help Adrian reach his fundraising goal, visit www.justgiving.com/Ade-Webb.

For more information about the Stand Up To Cancer campaign, click here.