Published on 14 April 2025

A former professional rugby player from Merseyside has spoken about how he feared he would not live to see his children grow up after a bowel cancer diagnosis.

Gary Sanderson went to hospital to have piles removed when surgeons told the 36-year-old father-of-two he had a suspicious tumour.

The former Warrington player from St Helens had surgery to remove the cancer before undergoing chemotherapy and joining a clinical trial of new drug developed by Cancer Research UK.

During Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, Gary, aged 58, said his recovery was “living proof of the power of research”, adding: “It's given me the greatest gift of all – more precious time with my family.”

You can read the full story here: 'Living proof' dad feared he wouldn't see his children grow up - Liverpool Echo