A Balloch woman is keeping her beloved boyfriend’s memory alive after he tragically died from bone cancer at the age of 31.
Kirsty Yule was left devastated after Chris Fairley passed away earlier this year after being diagnosed with rare disorder Ewing Sarcoma.
The couple had been together for three years and were making plans for a lifetime together, including buying their first home.
Midwife Kirsty has taken strength from helping raise more than £7000 for the Bone Cancer Research Trust (BCRT), which is leading the fight against the disorder.
Over the weekend, she took part in Edinburgh’s Kiltwalk as part of the fundraising, along with a group of Chris’ friends.
The 27-year-old said: “It’s really important to raise awareness of Ewing Sarcoma because it is incurable and often not diagnosed until it is too late.
“Chris went back and forth to the doctors for seven months before he was diagnosed.
“By the time he was diagnosed, it had spread to his lungs.”
Sarcomas are uncommon cancers that can affect any part of the body, on the inside or outside, including the muscle, bone, tendons, blood vessels and fatty tissues.
There are around 100 different sub-types of sarcoma including Ewing Sarcoma which affects bones or the tissue around bones.
Symptoms include bone pain, a tender lump or swelling, a high temperature, feeling tired all the time and weight loss.
Chris’ symptoms began when he started suffering with back pain and sciatica type pain at the end of summer in 2017.
He went to see his GP in October, around the time the couple moved in together.
The maths teacher, who lived in Cumbernauld, eventually got an MRI which showed a tumour on his pelvis, which was around 10cm in size.
Kirsty continued: “We were in total disbelief. You just don’t imagine it’s going to be that. We didn’t know anything about it.
“After two lots of chemo, the tumour had halved in size but by January this year, he started getting sore again.
“He had a scan on February 19 and they told him the treatment had stopped working and it could not be cured.
“That was the day he became really scared.”
Chris sadly passed away on March 25 this year.
Paying tribute to her “amazing” partner, she said: “He was such a trooper throughout, really laid back.
“Chris was just amazing. Everybody got along with him and thought he was just the nicest guy.”
Kirsty and Chris came across BCRT after his diagnosis and set up an online fundraising page, which saw generous friends and family donate an incredible £3600.
She decided to continue the fundraising efforts in Chris’ memory by taking part in Edinburgh’s Kiltwalk on Sunday, raising more than £3,300.
She added: “I hope one day to see new treatments for Ewing Sarcoma and know that will be part of his legacy.”
To donate, visit https://edinburghkiltwalk2019.everydayhero.com/uk/team-bones
