SWANSEA: Opticians team lace up for Race for Life in memory of colleague Chris who gave more than 20 years to the practice

A team from a Swansea opticians is taking on the Race for Life this Saturday in memory of a retired colleague who spent more than 20 years with the practice before losing her battle with cancer.

Stephen Evans Optometrists is based on Kings Road in the SA1 Waterfront area — one of Swansea’s most distinctive regenerated neighbourhoods, sitting on the eastern edge of the city centre alongside the marina that the Race for Life course will take runners past on Saturday.

Six members of staff will line up for the Swansea 5K Race for Life on 17 May, with the course starting at Museum Green before heading towards the coast and along the marina.

The team is raising money for Cancer Research UK — a cause that carries deep personal meaning. Their retired colleague Chris Radford, who was part of the team for over two decades, died from cancer, and many of the six runners carry their own personal experiences of the disease.

Stephen Evans, optometrist and founder of the practice, said the event had brought the team together in a way that felt meaningful.

“We have a very diverse mix of experience amongst the team but everybody has been eager to take on the challenge,” he said. “It’s been a really nice way to unite us in practice; it’s been a key topic of conversation and created quite a bit of buzz, and I’m sure on the day we’ll all be spurring each other on.”

He added that being able to channel something positive from so much pain would make crossing the finish line all the more significant.

“To be able to bring some positivity around something that has had such a huge impact on the entire team and unfortunately the lives of so many others, will be incredibly rewarding,” he said.

The race will not be new territory for all of the team. Some completed the Race for Life back in 2015, and members of the group have previously taken on charity bike rides, sea swimming and late-night MoonWalks. Others have been training specifically for Saturday’s 5K, motivated by the chance to get outdoors and improve their fitness ahead of the event.

Evans said the team’s connection with the outdoors and nature ran through everything they did together as a practice.

“We’re generally very nature-driven,” he said. “It can really help, not just to complete 5Ks but also to improve mental wellbeing, which is also really important to us as a team. There are endless benefits just from getting outdoors and keeping active, supporting each other, and fostering the strong sense of community we already have.”

Cancer affects roughly one in two people in the UK. Survival rates have doubled over the last 40 years, with research efforts making significant advances in treating more than 200 different variations of the disease — but the impact it has on families and those closest to patients remains profound.

The Swansea Race for Life draws hundreds of participants each year, with runners and walkers of all abilities taking on the 5K course together. The Museum Green start point puts the route right in the heart of the city before opening out along the waterfront — a fitting backdrop for a team whose practice sits just metres from the same stretch of marina.

Cancer Research UK funds scientific research aimed at improving treatments and understanding the disease more deeply, with the goal of beating cancer sooner.

You can donate to the Stephen Evans Optometrists team at fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/team/stephen-evans-optometrists.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Cancer Research UK coverage from Swansea Bay News
All our stories involving Cancer Research UK fundraising and campaigns.

Race for Life stories from Swansea Bay News
Our coverage of Race for Life events across the region.

If you took part in todays #RaceForLife at #CoftoPark – Send us YOUR photos 😊

Kasim: "BEAUTIFUL day today. Some of our @Newman_Uni #Nursing staff and students took part in the #Raceforlife 5k Pretty Muddy event, in Birmingham. Raising money for
@CR_UK"

"Lovely time supporting the @Newman_Uni staff and students. Managed to run about 3k taking pictures of the team. "

-

#Birmingham
#BirminghamUK
#B31Voices #BVoices

Local slimming group members step up to raise funds for charity

https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/2025/05/31/local-slimming-group-members-step-up-to-raise-funds-for-charity/

I’m taking part in Race for Life to raise money for Cancer Research UK 🏃‍♂️

I’m running in memory of my Nan who we lost 3 years ago

Together we can beat cancer

https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/wade-race-for-life

#running #RaceForLife #CancerResearch

Another week of these, and then the #RaceForLife 5 km run -
https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/andrews-race-for-life-32746570173477.

Will I keep them up after the event?
Will I end up in A&E after the race again this year?

Who knows.

#FuckCancer

Swansea scientist’s innovative toothbrush could detect early signs of lung cancer

This innovative device could transform the way patients are diagnosed with lung cancer, as well as head and neck and oesophageal cancers.

Dr Paolo Bertoncello is part of a team of researchers working on the toothbrush sensor, which detects cancer biomarkers in saliva.

He said: “Our goal is to improve early diagnosis and to make cancer detection as simple and accessible as possible. By integrating diagnostic technology into a common household item, we hope to reach a wider population and catch the disease in its earliest stages.”

Initial tests have shown promising results, with the sensor technology demonstrating high sensitivity in detecting cancer biomarkers.

Respiratory and gastrointestinal cancers have some of the lowest levels of early-stage diagnosis, amongst cancer types with a known stage of diagnosis in Wales.*

Dr Bertoncello said: “These cancers are often seen in populations with higher risk factors, such as smoking. A toothbrush could be a pre-screening tool to identify people most at risk of lung, head and neck and oesophageal cancers.”

Dr Bertoncello received around £230,000 from Cancer Research UK in 2022, together with researchers at universities in Sheffield, Leeds, Exeter, Newcastle, Manchester and Bristol.

Dr Paolo Bertoncello is passionate about cancer research after his dad died of pancreatic cancer in 2013.

He said: “My dad was the initial motivation for the first project. He passed away in 2013 with pancreatic cancer and he was one of the lucky ones as he was able to have surgery and survived for two years.

“Three years ago, I received a Cancer Research UK grant to develop a micro electrode to detect a biomarker for pancreatic cancer. I worked alongside researchers at universities in Nottingham, Oxford, and Glasgow.”

And now, Dr Bertoncello is backing Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life in Swansea.

People of all ages and abilities are being welcome to take part in Race for Life with 3k, 5k and 10k events on Sunday May 18 in Museum Green. And as part of a bumper weekend of events, the fun begins on Saturday May 17 in Singleton Park with Pretty Muddy- a 5k mud-splattered obstacle course. There is also a Pretty Muddy Kids option.

Research shows that every year around 20,200 people are diagnosed with cancer in Wales. 

Money raised will help scientists like Dr Bertoncello find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat the disease – to bring about a world where everybody lives longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.

He said: “I’m proud to be supporting Race for Life Swansea as research like mine couldn’t happen without people raising funds. I hope lots of people sign up as it’s such an uplifting and vibrant event raising vital funds for Cancer Research UK.”

Ruth Amies, Cancer Research UK’s spokesperson in Wales said: “We are so grateful to Dr Bertoncello for supporting Race for Life. His exciting research is a beacon of hope in the fight against cancer.

“Sadly nearly 1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetime but all of us can support the research that will beat it. We’re proud that Race for Life has had such a positive impact.  

 “We’d love for as many people as possible to join us at Race for Life. There is an event for everyone and we mean everyone. Our events are non-competitive which means everyone can have a go – and love every minute. There’s no pressure to finish in a certain time, just give it what you can. Lace up and join in.

“Whether people are living with cancer, taking part in honour of or in memory of a loved one with cancer, in it for the medals or just for the fun of fundraising, there is a place for everyone.”  

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with headline sponsor Standard Life, part of Phoenix Group, raises millions of pounds every year across the UK to help beat cancer by funding crucial research.    

Cancer Research UK funded scientists led the development of the Human Papillomavirus Virus vaccine, which is expected to prevent almost 90 per cent of cervical cancers in the UK. The charity was a key player in the development of radiotherapy which now benefits millions of cancer patients worldwide. Cancer Research UK played a leading role in the development of abiraterone – a drug that gives men with advanced prostate cancer more time with their friends and family.    

Since it began in 1994, more than 10 million people have taken part in Race for Life, contributing millions of pounds towards life-saving research.  

Andy Curran, Chief Executive of Standard Life, part of Phoenix Group, said: “We are incredibly proud to continue as headline sponsor for Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, with the opportunity to encourage participation across the country.  

“By working to raise funds for life-saving research, we can move towards a future where people live longer and better lives, free from the fear of cancer.”  

#Cancer #CancerResearchUK #lungCancer #RaceForLife #research #Swansea #SwanseaUniversity