Mum of Stowmarket resident Gary Welsh, who was diagnosed with incurable bowel cancer, to sky-dive in Beccles to raise funds for his treatment

“I was hesitant to jump out of a plane, but when your child’s life is on the line, your fear no longer matters.”

The mum of a man from Stowmarket who was diagnosed with incurable bowel cancer will jump out of a plane to help ‘keep him alive’.

Lisbeth Welsh, 68, whose son Gary, 35, was diagnosed in 2021, made plans to skydive in Beccles on June 17 to help pay for his treatment.

Lisbeth revealed Gary was on the final set of treatments he could gain through the NHS, and his future treatments – which could cost as much as £2,000 every two weeks – would need to be paid for out of pocket.

A fund-raiser was set up on his behalf in March, which is nearing its £50,000 goal, and Lisbeth will conquer a fear of hers to aid her son, with her own appeal having raised more than £1,000.

SuffolkNews caught up with Gary shortly after the GoFundMe was set up by his sister, Zöe, where he described his ‘roller-coaster of emotions’ following his diagnosis, after he went to the hospital with flu-like symptoms.

Lisbeth said: “At 68 years old, I never thought I would choose to take part in a skydive, but I also never thought my son would be in the position he is.

“I was dicing around what I could do to try and raise funds and a mulled over the idea for a few months, and decided on it after a family trip to Wales, where we went bungie jumping.

“I’m not much good at baking or crafts, so it was either a skydive, or I shave my head. I settled on the skydive. Typically, I like to keep my feet planted firmly on the ground and said I wouldn’t have jumped out of a plane for £1m. I even went indoor skydiving to help prepare.

“I feel fine right now, but I may get a little anxious in the lead up. I was hesitant to jump out of a plane, but when your child’s life is on the line, your fear no longer matters.

“I’m doing all this to keep Gary alive, not to cure him. There is no cure, and at this stage it’s all about management.”

Lisbeth noted it was ‘not a matter of if, but when’ Gary would require new treatment.

Gary is is now on a targeted treatment for the BRAF mutation, but may need immunotherapy in the future.

Current methods may keep his cancer at bay for a while, but they would not find out whether his current plan was effective until his next scan, Lisbeth said.

Gary’s journey has been heard on radio and in national newspapers.

Friends of his have organised golfing days, formal days, run half marathons and anything else they can to support his appeal, Lisbeth said.

Lisbeth noted Gary’s young age and active lifestyle meant his diagnosis was a shock.

Both Gary, alongside his wife Lizzy, have made changes in their diet to help slow cancer growth, she said.

She felt it was important that young people get themselves checked if they showed symptoms.

According to Cancer Research UK, there are 42,900 new bowel cancer cases every year in the UK which is nearly 120 per day.

By 2030, bowel cancer is likely to become the leading cause of cancer deaths for people between 20 to 49 years old.

Lisbeth said: “It’s going to be a real challenge for me. Typically when I’m in a plane, I like to think I’m standing on solid ground to cope. When on the skydive, I’ll be accompanied by someone, which may help settle my nerves.

“It has been a difficult journey. it upsets me to know that all these lovely people have felt the same as us and have donated as a result, so I tend not to look at how much it has raised.”

“However, I know the fund-raiser is doing well and I’m eternally grateful for everyone who has donated to it.”