An Aberdeen man who defied the odds to become a father while battling leukaemia will lead a fundraising campaign this weekend – with his baby girl by his side.
Proud parents Mark Newcombe and Alana McCombie and their four-month-old daughter Jessica will take part in a 5K fun walk at Hazlehead Park in aid of blood cancer charity Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research (LLR).
The childhood sweethearts had always wanted to start a family but put their plans on hold when Mark was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in August 2011.
The 27-year-old, of Sumburgh Crescent, Aberdeen, said: “We had been talking about having a family before I was diagnosed.
“Then I was told there was a chance I would have reduced fertility and that I might still be able to have kids but probably way in the future.”
Following eight months of intensive chemotherapy at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary’s Anchor unit, Mark was given the all-clear but there was still a big risk that the leukaemia would come back.
The marine electrician, who works at Aberdeen Harbour, embarked on a two-and-a-half year “maintenance” programme, funded by UK charity LLR.
The treatment, aimed at keeping the disease in remission for longer, involves low-dose chemotherapy and drugs.
Six months before the treatment finished, Alana fell pregnant.
At first, the couple feared she too had cancer because she was constantly tired.
Mark said: “She went to the doctors and they asked if there was any chance she was pregnant and she said, ‘no way’.
“Then we did a pregnancy test, just in case, and we couldn’t believe it.”
Although delighted, the couple endured months of worry that the chemotherapy drugs might affect the baby’s development.
Even when all the scans and tests came back normal, it was not until Jessica arrived – nine days early and perfectly healthy – on January 3 that they breathed a sigh of relief.
Mark, who finished his treatment last October, is now in full remission and taking part in Sunday’s walk is his way of giving something back.
He said: “I am just happy to help in any way I can.
“Without the funding from LLR, the outcome might have been very different.”