A ROSYTH teenager who travelled to Germany for treatment for a cancer in his spine is inspiring people to Race for Life at Home.

As reported by the Press, Lee Watson was playing with his football team, Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts, when he experienced pain in his foot.

The St Columba's High pupil was then diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma, a bone cancer, at the start of 2019 after a tumour was found at the bottom of his spine which had grown to the size of a melon.

Thankfully, after intensive chemotherapy, it reduced to the size of a lemon but more treatment was needed.

Lee, now 18, flew to Essen for a 33-day cycle of proton beam therapy as well as more rounds of chemo.

He was able "ring the bell" on September 6 but he still had to wait on a final scan later in the month to confirm he was in remission.

Lee has now been chosen to help launch Race for Life at Home in Scotland.

He’ll be cheering on thousands of people from across the UK who have vowed to run, walk or jog 5K this April for Cancer Research UK to fund life-saving research.

Lee said: “I felt devastated when I was told I had cancer.

“I’ve been playing football all my life and thought at first the pains in my legs were from sport. It was hard to take in that this was cancer.

"The treatment felt intense. I lost weight and I missed playing football so much. But I had a lot of support from my family and my friends did everything they could to help keep me connected with what was going on when I was in hospital then away in Germany.

"I’m lucky the treatment has worked.

"I’m well enough to get back into football and on with my life. And if I can help some other people through cancer then I’m glad to do that.”

Lee was supported every step of the way through his journey by his team-mates and his family, including mum Michelle, dad Stuart, sister Danielle, and brothers Stuart and Cameron.

Michelle said: "Lee went through a really tough time but was always brave.

“When Lee was in treatment, he withdrew into himself a bit and was much quieter.

"It’s great to see him back to being chatty again.

"I don’t know how we got through it all. I think it helped to talk, get support from people and to stay strong and positive."

When Scotland's 'Stay at Home' lockdown lifts, Lee plans to return to playing football and a job working in Bob & Berts cafe in Kirkcaldy; he also hopes to go to college to study either catering or plumbing.

Lisa Adams, Cancer Research UK’s spokeswoman for Scotland, said: “We’d like to thank Lee and his family for sharing their story.

“The truth is, COVID-19 has slowed us down. But we will never stop and we are absolutely determined to continue to create better cancer treatments for tomorrow.  

"Even though we have to Race for Life differently this spring, nothing is going to stop us running, walking or jogging to raise money to help beat cancer.

"That’s why we need as many people as possible across Fife to sign up to Race for Life at Home this April, to stand united and do something extraordinary to help beat cancer."

Cancer Research UK is predicting a £300 million drop in income caused by COVID-19 over the next three years which could put future medical breakthroughs at risk. 

All 400 mass-participation Race for Life events across the UK were cancelled last year to protect the country’s health during the pandemic. And as the country emerges from lockdown, the charity’s much-loved Race for Life events which were scheduled for this spring and early summer have also now been postponed.

This includes the Race for Life Fife 5K and 10K which had been due to take place at Beveridge Park, Kirkcaldy, on June 13.

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, which has been in partnership with Tesco for 20 years, is an inspiring series of 3K, 5K, 10K, Pretty Muddy and Pretty Muddy Kids events which raise millions of pounds every year to help beat cancer by funding crucial research.

A live broadcast on the Cancer Research UK Race for Life Facebook and Race for Life Instagram pages on Saturday, April 24, will include an energiser from a fitness expert as well as inspirational messages of support from people who have been through cancer.

Participants are then invited to run, walk or jog 5K and organisers are also inviting participants to share photos and videos on social media using the hashtag #RaceatHome