MEDIA RELEASE October 2015 Terminally-ill ex army officer fights brain tumour while raising thousands for charities A terminally ill former British Army officer has astonished family, friends and medics by spending the time he has left raising as much money as he can for five charities. Overcoming deafness, epilepsy, loss of balance, brain surgery, radiotherapy and 12 cycles of chemotherapy, father of two, Archie Douglas, has vowed to make a difference to as many lives as he can in whatever time remains. Inspired by the Wesleyan maxim, “Do all the good you can by all the means you can,” Archie is walking, cycling, paddling and climbing, in between visits to hospital, to raise funds for his five favourite charities: The Princes Trust, Cancer Research UK, the British Red Cross, WWF and Help for Heroes. In just 33 days, he has already covered 270 miles and raised nearly £2,500 through sponsorship, while undergoing two cycles of chemotherapy. In 2013, after nearly twenty years in the British Army, Archie discovered he had a Chlosteatoma, which left him deaf in his right ear, and a Grade 2-3 brain tumour on the right temporal lobe, both of which were caused by a blunt force trauma sustained while in service. Shortly after this, he developed epilepsy. Brain surgery in 2014 could only remove 40% of the tumour because it had grown deep into his brain. So, despite the radiotherapy and chemotherapy, it is just a matter of time. To make matters worse, the trauma that triggered Archie's diagnosis was probably sustained prior to the launch of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, denying him the right to more comprehensive financial support afforded by the scheme to others in similar situations. Like many before him, Archie had left the army in order to give his family a more settled life. However, his diagnosis made employment difficult and he felt compelled to resign his position as CEO of the Future Nation Foundation, the charity he had founded to help disadvantaged young people. “Instead of letting my diagnosis cast a shadow over my children’s lives, I decided to give them the best future I possibly could by encouraging and inspiring them”, said Archie. “So I have chosen to raise as much money as I can by all the means I can, in all the places I can, at all the times I can, for as many people I can, for as long as I can.” The “Beat the Beast Challenge” began as a personal battle against a terminal brain tumour and initially focused on activities, such as learning the organ, designed to maintain Archie’s motor and cognitive functions. “I quickly realised”, explains Archie, “that I could continue the work I had started with my charity at the same time as fighting the tumour, and even do more. The activities I
was doing to force my brain to beat the tumour could also be used to help improve lives.” Every penny raised goes directly to the five charities. “If I could get just one million people to sponsor me only 5p a day, equating to £1 a month, I could raise 1 million pounds every month for these five charities. I just need people to get behind me. ” END To sponsor Archie Archie raises funds through individual standing orders, which can be arranged through your bank, either online or via standing order form. Archie aims to complete 20 days of activity every month and suggests the following sponsorship options: £1 per day = £20 per month 50p per day = £10.00 per month 25p per day = £5 per month 5p per day = £1 per month The Beat the Beast Challenge account details: Bank Account number: 03278786 Sort Code: 20-63-25 Payee reference: 32C2226211BEA For more information, please contact: Archie Douglas Email: archie-douglas@hotmail.co.uk Telephone: 07584 570 212 NOTES 1. Archie served in the King’s Own Scottish Borderers and the Royal Regiment of Scotland. 2. A Chlosteatoma is a rare abnormal collection of skin cells in the ear. If left untreated, the delicate structures deep inside the ear can be damaged leading to loss of hearing and balance. 3. Archie’s tumour is a Grade 2 to 3 Oligodendroglioma found on the right temporal lobe and measuring 6 x 5 x 7cms. 4. The right temporal lobe of the brain has many important functions, including memory, communication, sound location and personality.