Earlier this term, the School’s own Justin Shanahan took on an extraordinary task just over the road from the Medical School - abseiling down the length of Clatterbridge Centre to raise money for cancer research.
Many of you will be more familiar with him for his teaching of core clinical skills in our Clinical Skills department, as well as his longstanding support of student initiatives -, he has become a key fixture and enthusiastic panel judge at the LMSS and Artefacts Strictly Come Dancing Fundraiser each year.
Following his own cancer diagnosis 14 years ago, Justin has made it a personal goal to raise at least £250 every year for MacMillan Cancer Research.
I hadn’t long started at the medical school when I first got my diagnosis. MacMillan is understandably quite close to my heart because they were the only charity at the time who not only offered me support, but financial aid as well.
Justin’s treatment was at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and, having spotted their team promoting a charity abseil to fund raise, this year he decided it would be better to do it in aid of the hospital that treated him during his illness.
Ironically, Justin is scared of heights – but you wouldn’t know it! In 2023 he abseiled down the side of Anfield, home of his beloved Liverpool FC, also to raise money for charity. Clatterbridge however proved a whole different challenge. Whilst his Anfield experience was mid-afternoon on a clear sunny day in May, his Clatterbridge trip was early morning in October and a much different experience.
The guys running it told me it’s the largest abseil they run outside of the Radio City Tower – about 150 feet or so straight down. Anfield was scary but smaller and became easier once you were out there. You’re only looking at brick and can make your way down quite quickly. Clatterbridge is taller and made of glass. My descent was also at 9am, so the windows were still covered in the morning dew, which meant I didn’t really have a leg to stand on for a slow descent. My feet just kept sliding down the glass!
Although wracked by nerves, Justin did complete his descent successfully and even paused midway down for a quick selfie with the School in the background! He reassures us that, despite some shaky legs and core pain, he did enjoy the experience and even got to wave at a few patients as he rappelled down the side of the building. Having smashed his personal target, the event itself went on to raise almost £60,000 for the centre.
I will forever sing the praises of Clatterbridge Hospital. We’re extremely lucky that we have some of the best hospitals in the country within the city – Alder Hey, The Walton Centre, Liverpool Heart and Chest – the list goes on. So, it’s extremely important that we’re able to support these institutions financially in any ways we can. I only found out after my care that the prognosis for my cancer was under 5 years, and yet the care I received means I’m still well many years later.
“I like to be open about it, because I think it’s important to know you can have cancer and be okay 14 years on. All I would say to people is you must look out for yourself. If you find a lump – breast or otherwise – or notice swelling, get it checked out. Don’t sit there and think it’ll be alright. If it’s nothing you’re fine, but early detection is so important in getting the best outcomes”.
A massive congratulations Justin!