A Bolton man fighting cancer led a team to shine a light on the difference research can make.

Bob Dackiw  was part of team of fundraisers from Greater Manchester’s Business Growth Hub, part of the Growth Company, who took to the streets of Manchester to raise vital funds for Cancer Research UK.

Bob, who is currently undergoing cancer treatment, lled the Stronger Together team took part in the annual Cancer Research UK Shine Night Walk this month,  raising more than £2,800.

Bob, who has helped local businesses grow and thrive for more than 20 years, has praised the support he has received from his colleagues throughout his cancer treatment and is proud to be able to give something back to the community.

He said: “In October 2022, I was diagnosed with a very aggressive cancer, Metastatic Intrahepatic Cholangiacarcinoma (Bile Duct Cancer), which had spread to my liver, lungs, and omentum. The prognosis was not good but mentally, I was in a positive place, and the only thing to do was to fight and stay alive.

“Since my diagnosis and throughout my treatment, my wife Oksana has been at my side - I could not do this without her love and support.

"I have also been blessed with the support from family, friends, my work colleagues and the Growth Company as a whole.

"I also want to praise the wonderful staff at The Christie and St Ann’s Hospice in Little Hulton, Salford.”

Despite undergoing intensive chemotherapy, Bob has recently returned to work one-day a week and has been overwhelmed by the support of his colleagues.

“The excellent support I’ve received from the company has made a real difference to me, in terms of being valued and not feeling institutionalised.

"All my colleagues have been open and supportive and allowed me to contribute as a valued member of the team. I can’t emphasise enough, the importance of employers supporting their workforce through life-changing experiences and I’m proud to work for a company that embraces this ethos,” adds Bob.

Bob and his colleagues have been busy fundraising over the last few months ahead of the walk, including a Bake and Cake event which raised £240.

As 1 in 2 people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, every single pound donated makes a difference to Cancer Research UK’s ground-breaking work.

The word Cancer or big C is not the end, but the start of the fight for each individual who unfortunately gets this cruel disease.

Bob said: “I’m fighting this daily as my prognosis was not good at the start, but one thing I will not do is give up without a fight.

"I’ll use all the resources available to me, to make sure that I beat this disease, but also I will volunteer for any new trials, or treatments, as I want to help the next generation who gets this particular cancer, to have a better course of new treatments, that will give them a better chance of survival.”

Cancer Research UK North West spokesperson, Jane Bullock, said: “A huge well done to everyone from Greater Manchester’s Business Growth Hub who participated in Shine Manchester.

“Their fundraising efforts will help Cancer Research UK’s pioneering work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer which has helped save millions of lives.  “We wish Bob well in his gradual return to work and in his ongoing cancer treatment.”

You can read more about Bob’s story and make a donation by visiting his Just Giving page - Bob’s Giving Page (cancerresearchuk.org)