Birth of first grandson inspires Torquay dad's cancer battle

Young Torbay mum Isabel Floreale is about to pound the streets to raise thousands of pounds for charity after her family went through the highs and deep lows of life.

One minute, her well-known South Devon solicitor dad Marco was celebrating the birth of her son and his first grandchild. Then just days later he was told he had cancer.

Now Isabel, 25, is planning to walk 100 miles through all of April to raise money for Bowel Cancer UK.

She, Marco and the family, including wife Annette and other daughter Sophia, 14, are convinced early diagnosis saved their dad’s life.

Isabel says: “Throughout April I am walking 100 miles to raise money for Bowel Cancer UK to spread awareness and to stress and highlight the importance of early diagnosis and what a difference it can make.

“Bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer in the UK. Nine out of ten people will survive after the five year period following diagnosis

“With dad, early diagnosis made all the difference. The outcome could have been incredibly different.”

Marco, 53 and head of the Sports Law Division at Wollens solicitors, went to present trophies at Teignmouth Golf Club for the South Devon Cricket Club end-of-season awards.

He had chilli con carne which he thought had disagreed with him as he spent the next four or five days with diarrhoea and vomiting as well as severe stomach pains.

He saw his doctor and was referred to have a CT scan the next day which revealed a thickening of the large intestine. A colonoscopy confirmed the worst and a tumour and Stage Two cancer was diagnosed on December 21.

Isabel Floreale and son Francesco Marco

But one thing especially helped Marco prepare for the battle ahead - the birth of his first grandchild and grandson Francesco Marco just three days earlier.

“There I was celebrating the birth of my grandson and then three days later being diagnosed with cancer, “ said Marco. But he believed in the saying ‘with new life comes new beginnings’

He underwent surgery on January 5 and was given the clear. “I was told the cancer had been downgraded to stage one. I will have to have checks every five years but there is no need for any chemotherapy or radiotherapy.”

Isabel, with Marco ‘tagging along’, will walk the 100 miles throughout April. They will take in parts of the South West Coast Path as well as local walks. “If people want to join in and help raise money they are more than welcome,” said Isabel.

She is hoping to raise £5,000 with more than £1,500 pledged already. A fund-raising page can be found here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/isabel-floreale-1

Marco had none of the early symptoms associated with bowel cancer including blood in your poo and rapid weight loss but he did find another ally in his battle against the big C apart from new grandson Francesco.

He revealed: “I like spicy food and my surgeon told me the tumour did not like spice!”