An inspirational Slimming World consultant from Yaxley has completed a marathon-length walk to raise money for Macmillan.

Bryan Houghton, 72, took on the 26-mile Northumberland Coast Mighty Hike despite having been diagnosed with both bladder and bowel cancer last year.

"There was a lot of hill and beach walking, but the views were spectacular and the weather was good,” said Bryan.

“Crossing the finish line was the most amazing feeling – more so because I had to pull out of a different Macmillan Mighty Hike the previous year due to my symptoms.”

Bryan Houghton pictured on the walk with his friend Joanne See.

placeholder image — Bryan Houghton pictured on the walk with his friend Joanne See.

Despite completing several long-distance events for the charity in the past, Bryan says that his own diagnosis last year meant the walks had now “become personal”.

“In March 2023 I was diagnosed with bladder cancer, then later in the year a bowel cancer too,” he explained. "I have since had a large part of my bowel removed. After this I was told I was clear of bowel cancer, but they have since found a polyp which is now being investigated.

"As for my bladder, I have had operations to remove a tumour, and I’m having immunotherapy, which is helping.”

Bryan first noticed an issue with his bladder while on one of his walks – but just put it down to “old man problems”.

Bryan completing his epic Northumberland Coastal Walk for Macmillan.

”My bladder just felt full all the time,” he said. “This is the reason I went to my GP in the first place – which led to the cancer being found.

"I did attempt The Norfolk Coast Hike in May last year, but due to the symptoms I was experiencing I had to withdraw from the hike,” he said. “It just felt like I needed the loo all the time and made it very uncomfortable.”

Bryan said he was left feeling “bitterly disappointed” – but vowed to complete the hike in 2024. Upon achieving this in May, he signed up to do the Northumberland Coast walk in September.

"I have had bowel surgery this month and several rounds of immunotherapy and investigations for the bladder cancer,” he explained. “This is still ongoing and I am under the care of the Oncology Urology department at Addenbrookes.

"In total, my three Mighty Hikes have raised £1,914 for Macmillan Cancer Care. I am extremely proud of my efforts in this regard.”

Members at Bryan’s Slimming World group are often inspired by his achievements to get outside and walk themselves. As reported in June, he and some of his members completed a 5k event and won an award for raising a whopping £6,000 for Cancer Research UK.

"Half of my members admire my efforts, but the other half think I’m bonkers as they know I’m going through this treatment,” he laughed.

Before joining Slimming World as a member in 2006, Bryan said he was “overweight and seriously unfit”. But after losing around four stones and becoming active with Slimming World’s Body Magic programme – he has never looked back. He now regularly trains by walking the nine-mile circuit around Grafham Water in Huntingdon.

"My weight loss and the regular walking has without doubt helped me to cope with the surgery and the numerous general anaesthetics I have had over the past 18 months,” he said. “I will always advocate for the benefits of walking – both mentally and physically.”