Top surgeons running on road to recovery

Three of the top surgeons in North Staffordshire are more likely to be found in the recovery area than an operating theatre at the moment. The surgeons from University Hospital of North Staffordshire are in training for the Stafford Half Marathon. Martin Farmer, John Lengyel and Duncan Beardsmore decided it would be a good way to get fit and raise some money for Bowel & Cancer Research at the same time.

Martin, a Consultant General Surgeon, said: "This was all my idea. I needed to lose some weight and started running in the summer but by the winter I needed a bit of an incentive to keep going, so a charity run seemed like a good idea. So far I have managed to lose a stone during training for the run. I've bought a book called 'How to Run a Half Marathon' to get some tips, and I'm trying to stick to it."

"Bowel cancer is a very big problem and affects people massively. It doesn't get much publicity, and nobody talks about it because of the embarrassment factor. So anything we can do to help is a good thing. We chose to support Bowel & Cancer Research because me and John are both colorectal surgeons and deal daily with patients suffering from bowel disorders."

Duncan has an advantage over both Martin and John because he takes part in triathlons and is training by doing a lot of cycling. The three have set up a justgiving website, www.justgiving.com/operation-stafford-half, for the event on Sunday 21 March.