A man who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer as a teenager will run the London Marathon on crutches to show others ‘anything is possible’.

Adam Lever was 18 when he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, an aggressive form of bone cancer most often seen in children and young adults.

Not long after starting university in 2012 he underwent a limb salvage operation in which part of his leg bones were removed and replaced with a metal replica.

But he refused to let his diagnosis dampen his dream to run the London Marathon and he will run the race next month – with two crutches to help him along.

Adam, who’s now 30 and is from Nottingham, said: ‘I want to inspire current and former bone cancer patients and promote the belief that anything is possible.

‘Completing a marathon was something I would have loved to have done pre-cancer but, following my operation, I no longer thought it was possible.

‘However, 10 years on, I found myself reflecting on the process I went through, in 2012, to relearn how to walk.

‘This gave me an idea – perhaps the thing that helped me to learn to walk again could also support me through this challenge.

‘Two sticks of metal were pivotal in helping me to walk again and they will be essential this time too. I simply would not be able to complete a marathon distance without them.’

Adam began to experience pain in his left knee which he initially chalked up to being a sports injury, but after seeing a GP in November 2011 he was referred for an x-ray which showed a suspected bone tumour.

A bone biopsy and further tests at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham confirmed he had an osteosarcoma tumour in his left leg, and in 2012 he began chemotherapy followed by his limb salvage surgery.

Adam was declared cancer free in 2013, and having received 10 years of support from the Bone Cancer Research Trust he hopes to raise £10,000 for the charity when he takes on the marathon on April 23.

Laura Riach, spokesperson for the charity, said: ‘We are incredibly grateful to Adam and all of his supporters for their remarkable efforts.

‘The funds raised will be put to good use to ensure that our vital work can continue.

‘I would like to wish a heartfelt thank you to Adam for his support – he is a truly inspirational person and is invaluable in our fight against this cruel disease.’

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