Suzanne Fosdike and her children Ben and Georgina, who are running the London Marathon on April 21st - the same day their brother Royce died from a rare tumour.

Ipswich: Siblings to run in memory of their brother who died from rare tumour

BY NAOMI GORNALL Tuesday, February 12, 2013
5:31 PM

SIBLINGS of a young man who died from a rare tumour are set to take part in the London Marathon in his memory – on the anniversary of his death.

Royce’s illness

At Christmas in 2009 Royce came home from his officer training course at Sandhurst, saying he was feeling unwell. Back at Sandhurst, doctors confirmed he had pneumonia, and sent him for further tests.

In February 2010 the family received the devastating diagnosis that Royce, then 23, had a rare tumour called Ewing’s Sarcoma in his chest.

Royce had an operation to remove the tumour and then underwent intensive chemotherapy treatment at The Royal Marsden Hospital. He returned to Sandhurst but in April 2011 he had a routine CT scan which revealed there was another tumour. This time it was so close to his heart that medics could not operate as it was too risky, and so it was treated by chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

He was went down hill quickly and spent his last ten days at St Elizabeth Hospice. He passed away on April 21 2012.

Royce Fosdike was just 25 years old and half way through his army officer training when he died from a tumour in his chest on April 21 last year.

Exactly a year on, his younger brother, Ben, and sister, Georgie, will be taking part in the 26-mile challenge around the capital.

Their mother, Suzanne, of Valley Road, said: “They wanted to do it and when they saw the date, they thought they had to do it.

“We will be going down to watch them.

Royce Fosdike, who died from a tumour last April.

“It will be the first anniversary and that will be really hard anyway but by them doing this, I hope it will help.

“Royce was very fit. He would have been very proud of his brother and sister.”

Royce, who died two years after he was first diagnosed, was supported by the charity CLIC Sargent, which Georgie is raising cash for, and spent his final days at St Elizabeth Hospice, which Ben is supporting.

Suzanne added: “We are trying to be very positive about everything and have been raising lots of money for St Elizabeth Hospice in the last year.”

Support worker Georgie, 22, of Provan Court off Foxhall Road, said: “Training has been going well.

“When we realised the date of the marathon, we thought it would be rude not to do it. It is now something to look forward to in a way. It will be a welcome distraction.”

Ben, who became a father to Lea four months ago, admitted training has been hard.

The 24-year-old of Donegal Road, who works at the family business in Woodbridge Road, Poplar Fish Bar, said: “It’s been tough training. It is hard to get motivated to go out when you have been up with the baby.

“But I’m looking forward to it. I’m sure Royce would be proud of us.”

The pair hope raise about £2,000 each.

To sponsor them, donate online at www.virginmoneygiving.com/GeorginaFosdike and www.virginmoneygiving.com/BenjaminFosdike. Alternatively people can pop into Poplar Fish Bar to donate in person.