There was a time when Patrick Levey wondered if he would ever complete another 5km walk.
Today, the 64-year-old Daily Dispatch employee has not only beaten stage 3B colon cancer but also celebrated his unofficial 200th parkrun — a milestone he once feared he might never reach.
For Levey, Saturday mornings on the parkrun course is about far more than fitness. It is a celebration of life, resilience and the unwavering belief that one step at a time can carry a person through even the darkest chapters.
Having spent nearly four decades at the Daily Dispatch, after joining the newspaper as an apprentice in September 1986, Levey has held more than 10 different technical positions and now works as a facilities maintenance assistant.
His love for parkrun began in March 2019, but life changed dramatically at the end of July 2022.
The next working day after his parkrun, he became ill at work.
“My lower abdomen felt awkward,” Levey said.
“After rushing to do GP visits, sonar and CT scans to verify what was wrong, I was referred to an East London surgeon.
“I was admitted for an emergency operation as soon as possible.”
While his wife, Tracey, completed the hospital admission paperwork, Levey sat shivering in the casualty department, preparing for surgery the following morning.
When he woke after the operation, his surgeon was waiting beside his bed.
“‘You have colon cancer,’ was what I heard him say,” Levey said.
“The section of my colon that was removed contained most of the cancer, but it had been removed.
“You also have an ostomy bag, and everything about using and emptying it will be explained to you.
“The ostomy bag was there to allow my colon to rest until a reversal operation could be scheduled.”
The diagnosis came as a shock.
His first question was simple: “Why?”
“I was already looking after myself by walking at parkruns and MyRun events. I walked to keep fit, and then this happened.”
Soon afterwards, chemotherapy began.
“I was told what to expect over the next few months. It sounded daunting.”
After two intravenous chemotherapy treatments, his body reacted badly.
“Oncology changed my treatment to tablets, but even those had to be reduced because my fingers felt like they were being shocked whenever I touched something.
“I also started losing skin on my feet and heels.”
In May 2023, Levey returned to work while continuing to adjust to life with an ostomy bag.
“Thank you to my work colleagues for making me feel at home again and understanding my cancer journey.
“Back into safety boots and overalls, all while wearing my ostomy bag.”
Throughout his treatment, Tracey and his mother, Jean became his greatest support system.
“Tracey and my mom handled all the questions from family and friends and kept the prayer groups updated.
“Thank you to everyone.”
Living with a ostomy bag for more than four years brought daily challenges.
Meals became smaller, fizzy drinks disappeared from his diet, and many foods — including biltong, popcorn, vetkoek and coconut — had to be avoided because they could cause painful intestinal blockages.
Even driving required adjustments, with Levey using a clothes peg to reduce the pressure of the seat belt against his ostomy bag.
Yet he refused to let the condition define him.
He quietly returned to parkrun.
“I folded the ostomy bag over and used my running clothes to hide it and keep it secure.
“I coped well with outdoor activities and regained my physical strength, ostomy bag and all.”
Earlier this year, after months of scans, colonoscopies, sonars and barium meal milkshakes, Levey underwent a five-and-a-half-hour operation to reverse the ostomy. The surgery was successful.
After a week recovering at his family home under the watchful eye of Jean, he made his way back to Sunrise-on-Sea parkrun.
“Thank you, Mom,” he said with a chuckle. At first, he returned only as a volunteer photographer.
“The second time I went to Sunrise-on-Sea parkrun, to put it bluntly, I had no walking acceleration, but I still took my volunteer photos and enjoyed the 5km outing.”
Nutrition became another important part of his recovery.
“I tried to eat food that worked with my body — fruit, broccoli and bananas. I’m not a nutrition expert, but if what I eat works for me, I’ll stick with it.”
Regular walking, both at work and during parkrun, helped rebuild his strength. “Even if it’s only 5km, your body lets you know when your nutrition isn’t right.
“That line of thought kept me going during rehabilitation.”
Today, Levey volunteers on Saturdays photographing fellow parkrunners while completing the course himself.
“I can now bend down to tie my running shoes, pick up dropped tools and my overall mobility has improved.”
Last weekend, he celebrated his unofficial 200th parkrun, another milestone in a journey marked by courage and perseverance.
“I enjoyed my 200th unofficial walk, especially with my stage 3B cancer behind me.”
He is also approaching his 60th volunteer milestone, something he says has changed the way he sees parkrun.
“Volunteering lets you become part of another family.”
Levey says cancer taught him that everyone carries battles invisible to others.
“When I look at the faces of parkrunners, from juniors to seniors, many have private health stories – knee replacements, accidents, illness or simply old age. But they keep going.
“The determination on their faces is incredible.
“Brisk walking is recommended for so many health conditions.
“So why not give your nearest parkrun a try?”
As he reflects on the past four years, Levey remains deeply grateful to everyone who stood beside him.
“Thank you to everyone who supported Tracey, prayed for me and rallied around me from my diagnosis in 2022 until now. I may have beaten cancer, but I didn’t do it alone.”
