Media/Press

Nathaniel Dye after completing his 100 mile run from Harwich to London Bridge

Ultrarunner, Nathaniel Dye from Chigwell, is no ordinary runner, a primary school teacher and musician from Essex, Nathaniel is living with stage 4 bowel cancer. A diagnosis in 2022 has seen him undergo chemotherapy, surgery, and he is now living with a stoma and a colostomy bag after emergency surgery to remove part of his bowel. Despite this, Nathaniel has recently run an epic 100 miles from Essex to London over the course of 2 days, raising nearly £6000 so far and becoming the first person to run this distance with a stoma.

Nathaniel’s diagnosis is not the first time cancer has impacted his family, Nathaniel’s fiancé, Holly, died aged only 25, eleven years ago of an aggressive form of ovarian cancer and just three years ago, Nathaniel’s mother also died of bowel cancer, aged 70. Nathaniel is still working, making music, inspiring his pupils and making the most of the time he has by raising as much money and awareness of cancer that he can.

Speaking of his 100 mile run Nathaniel said: “It was an incredible feeling - I’d done it.  I’d actually done it.  I’d run 100 miles. With cancer in three places.  After chemotherapy, major surgery, a stoma and half a dozen colostomy bags.  However much my body deteriorates now, however disabled and incapable I become and however soon, nothing can take that glorious achievement away from me.  It’s certain I’ll be forced to abandon doing everything I enjoy:  Everything that fulfills me and again, I’ll be missing a lot of action.  But this time I turned up and I got the job done.  And quite some job at that.”

As if running and teaching his students wasn’t enough, Nathaniel can also be found conducting his brass band and playing the trombone. “Having a stage 4 diagnosis hasn’t stopped me from living my life. I may not have long left to live but I’m certainly not going to let it stop me. I may be dying, but for now, I choose to live and to keep on doing the things I love.”

On why he’s raising money for Macmillan, Nathaniel said, “I’m proudly fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Care because they have already given me so much support in the form of medical information, counselling, a free will, and the chance to enjoy one last London Marathon. Macmillan is well and truly there for people with cancer and those around them.”

Nick Dines from Macmillan Cancer Support said, “It’s hard to know where to begin to talk about Nathaniel, he’s done so much for Macmillan and has been an incredible voice for raising both awareness and money that will help us support even more people going through a cancer diagnosis.”

Nathaniel will continue to defy what is expected of a dying man by running the 2024 London Marathon in April whilst playing the trombone.

If you or a loved one is facing a cancer diagnosis and don’t know where to turn, speak to Macmillan on 0800 8080000. You can donate to Nathaniel’s fundraiser on his Just Giving page.