Gazing around the high dependency unit at The Salford Royal while recovering from some particularly gruelling neurosurgery, one Wigan patient decided to channel his efforts into helping others while on the road to recovery.
Richard Moore, 35, was diagnosed with a pituitary gland tumour and the hormone disease acromegaly in March last year.
While it is classified as a brain tumour, these ‘master gland’ tumours do not share many of the characteristics of typical brain tumours.
When recovering from the surgery in November 2012, Richard first began to struggle with the realities of his condition.
Known for his cheerful, upbeat perspective on life he noticed a change in his personality and was diagnosed with depression, but undeterred Richard was determined to battle his demons.
He said: “I’m not like that at all – I’m a big, happy guy.
“I decided I needed something to do so during December 2012 I started to look around for something to do.”
His dogged determination to beat his illness and help others will see Richard competing in the Wigan 10k for charity Joining Jack and the Great North Run in aid of The Pituitary Foundation.
The Assistant General Manager at DW Sports Fitness Club Wigan recognises the importance of keeping physically and mentally fit.
“I’m a Wigan lad and Joining Jack is important to the local community – I wanted to help a local charity and The Pituitary Foundation, and get psychologically and physically stronger.”
In March 2013 Richard was well on the road to recovery and two months into his training when he began to feel unwell.
Forced to take seven weeks off work, Richard was given a new treatment that required two injections a week.
Coping with piercing headaches and constantly feeling unwell Richard recalled the uphill struggle he faced to continue putting in the work.
He explained: “I thought I would kill myself with all this train, but decided I was going to go for it. I didn’t wanted to be beaten by my pituitary tumour and acromegaly.”
Hoping to raise £400 for each charity, Richard is promoting his runs on blog Dicky Moo where he is in regular contact with 15 other bloggers who share the same condition, offering advice and support.
Richard’s own support comes from family and friends as well as his specialist Professor Peter Trainer, and all other staff, at The Christie Endocrine Unit.
Richard explained: “The support from my girlfriend, mum and sister has been wonderful. I’m very lucky.
“I can’t sing the NHS’s praises enough. The level of care I have experienced is humbling.”
Richard’s girlfriend, Amy Aspinall, said that even through everything he’s been through he is still the life and soul of the family.
She explained: “Richard is such a likeable person and when he meets new people they instantly love him – he has a really positive attitude to life and is definitely the joker of the family.
“Through his blog he has made friends with people from across the world, and he often receives emails thanking him for his advice.
“Even after everything he has been through over the past 18 months or so with his operation and treatments, he doesn’t let it get him down and he is so hard working.
“He is probably the only person I know who actually enjoys going to the hospital, however I think this is mainly for the gossip with Nurse Margaret over tea and toast!
“I’m really proud of him and grateful to all the NHS professionals involved in Richard’s treatment.”
His mum, Christine Barbour-Moore, echoed Amy’s sentiments described his sunny personality and determination to give something back to The Pituitary Foundation
“After being diagnosed with a pituitary tumour, my son has battled hard to try to maintain a positive attitude and keep active.
“It was a very numbing feeling for him to be told the news of this rare condition.
“Richard has done a great deal of research into the condition with the organisation and now feels he would like to give something to The Pituitary Foundation.
“He has appreciated all the support from family, friends, work and the health service in general and is thankful that these services are there to help.”
To support Richard on his charity runs visit http://www.justgiving.com/dickymoo and http://www.justgiving.com/dickymoo-greatnorthrun
To keep up-to-date with Richard’s blog posts visit http://www.dickymoo.com/
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