MEDIA ALERT – MARATHON RUN FOR MOUTH CANCER!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE –WEDNESDAY 15TH APRIL 2015

INTERVIEW AVAILABLE:

  • RUNNER – EDWARD FORD

To set up an interview andfor more informationplease call Media Ambitions on 0208 940 2222.

“After the surgery, my grandfather was in and out of critical and intensive care. It was a very traumatic time. All he wanted was to eat plaice, chips and peas, see his new great granddaughter and see me get married. Unfortunately he did not manage any of these things.”

Runner, Edward Ford

A runner from Cheslyn Hay, Staffordshire, is taking part in a trio of running events, around the country, to raise money for one of the country’s leading mouth cancer charities, the Mouth Cancer Foundation, after losing his grandfather to the disease earlier this year.

Edward Ford, 31, will start his challenge by taking onthe Lichfield Half Marathon on Sunday, 3rd May 2015. He will then participate in ‘Total Warrior’ in the Lake District on 2nd August 2015 and Cardiff Marathon on 4th October 2015.

Edward decided to support the Mouth Cancer Foundation in memory of his grandfather, Terry Henstock, who died of jaw cancer in February 2015. Edwards says “My grandfather visited his doctor in December 2014 after noticing his gums going black. Following some tests, he was diagnosed with jaw cancer and had his upper left jaw removed. A couple of weeks later he sadly passed away.”

The Founder of the Mouth Cancer Foundation, Dr Vinod Joshi, says “25% of mouth cancer cases are not associated with any known risk factors, hence the need for vigilance. If you notice a lump in your mouth that wasn’t there before or a mouth ulcer which lasts for longer than 3 weeks, you should see your dentist immediately. The money raised from Edward’s challenge will go towards helping improve the support for mouth cancer sufferers and their families, as well as highlighting the shocking facts about mouth cancer.”

To sponsor Edward, please go to For more information on the Mouth Cancer Foundation visit

-ENDS-

For general press enquiries, please contact:

Elizabeth Laverack or Izabela Nair

Media Ambitions - 020 8940 2222

NOTES TO EDITORS

The Mouth Cancer Foundation –

The Mouth Cancer Foundation is a registered charity no. 1109298.

The Mouth Cancer Foundation is a charity solely dedicated to supporting people affected by head and neck cancer. Support can play a pivotal role in meeting the psychosocial needs of patients. The Mouth Cancer Foundation’s online and telephone support service has given head and neck cancer patients and families the opportunity to articulate the consequences of their cancer journey and communicate their shared experiences. It is vital that the charity continues to provide free accessible information resources and ensure Mouth Cancer Foundation support is provided to those that need them.

About Mouth Cancer

Around 60,000 people in the UK will be diagnosed with mouth cancer over the next decade.

In the UK, 7,700 people were diagnosed with Mouth Cancer in 2011.

Tobacco use is still considered the main cause of mouth cancer. According to the World Health Organisation, up to half of current smokers will die of a tobacco-related illness – including mouth cancer.

Drinking to excess can increase the risk of mouth cancer by four times. Those who smoke and drink are up to 30 times more likely to develop mouth cancer.

Mouth cancer is twice more common in men than in women, though an increasing number of women are being diagnosed with the disease.

Age is another factor, with people over the age of 40 more likely to be diagnosed, though more young people are now being affected than previously.

Poor diet is linked to a third of all cancer cases.

Experts suggest the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), transmitted through oral sex, could overtake tobacco and alcohol as the main risk factor within the coming decade.

Cancers can occur in any part of the mouth, tongue, lips, and adjacent areas like the throat, salivary glands, pharynx, larynx, sinus, and other sites in the head and neck area.

Symptoms include:

An ulcer or white or red patch anywhere in the mouth that does not heal within 3 weeks.

A lump or swelling anywhere in the mouth, jaw or neck that persists for more than 3 weeks.

A difficulty in swallowing, chewing or moving the jaw or tongue.

A numbness of the tongue or other area of the mouth.

A feeling that something is caught in the throat.

A chronic sore throat or hoarseness that persists more than 6 weeks.

 An unexplained loosening of teeth with no dental cause.

More information about Mouth Cancer is available at the Mouth Cancer Foundation web site or by emailing