THE vicar of a Fareham church will run the Great South Run to raise money for cancer charities – as he wife is being treated for breast cancer.

The Rev Bruce Deans, vicar of St John’s Church, Fareham, will tackle the 10-mile course this Sunday (October 25) along with other worshippers from his church.

Although he is not organising sponsorship, Bruce is encouraging friends to donate money to Cancer Research UK and Breast Cancer Care to mark the race. His wife Caroline has been diagnosed with breast cancer, has undergone a mastectomy, and is now going through treatment.

“I ran the Great South Run last year to raise funds for the churches in Shedfield and Wickham, before I moved to St John’s, Fareham,” said Bruce.

“I had decided to run again this year before I knew anything about Caroline’s cancer. I had been thinking about whether to specifically seek sponsorship for this year’s run, but decided that I would just share the details of two cancer charities. If you would like to give some money to them, then great – you can do so direct via their websites on www.cancerresearchuk.org and www.breastcancercare.org.uk.  

“Most people will know about the great work Cancer Research does. I’ve only got to know the other charity, Breast Cancer Care, through Caroline’s illness. It is a charity that has provided us with some really useful booklets about breast cancer: what it is, what we can expect, treatment options, and where to get support. I found the booklet designed for children, written in comic book fashion, particularly helpful for me, Joseph and Daniel.”

Caroline Deans was herself licensed by the Bishop of Portsmouth, the Rt Rev Christopher Foster, as a Reader – or licensed lay minister – in September. This means she can also lead services and preach. She attended the cathedral for the licensing service after undergoing surgery.

Bruce will run the Great South Run alongside others from his congregation including Charlie Stevenson, who will run in memory of her workmate Steve Long, who died out of the blue in August 2014 of an unknown heart condition

“The fact that he died made me realise that I needed to start looking after my own health,” she said. “All the money I raise will be going to the British Heart Foundation in his memory.”

Bruce and Charlie are being joined by worshippers Kat Powell, Sian Rich-Smith and her children Christian and Sian (they are running on the Saturday), Sue Lupton, Natalie Summer-Anderson, Laura Craft.

Meanwhile, a team from Portsmouth Cathedral is running the Great South Run in aid of the Roberts Centre - a local charity which supports disadvantaged children and families in the centre of Portsmouth.  

The team consists of the Dean of Portsmouth, the Very Rev David Brindley, Cathedral Canons Peter Leonard, Lay Canon Debbie Sutton, diocesan spirituality adviser the Rev Ruth Tuschling, and worshippers Mark Pittaway, Georgie Poole, and Tom Ryan.