Manchester City Fans
Rhys Russell’s battle with melanoma skin cancer began with a chance discovery at the age of 15. Despite his curly hair making it difficult to detect any abnormalities, a bleeding incident led to the diagnosis. Rhys’ stepfather, Oli Russell, and mother, Lauren, have shared their journey, highlighting the impact footballer Jack Grealish had on their son during his illness. In a recent update, Oli, a student nurse, announced his acceptance to run the London Marathon next year, aiming to honor Rhys’ memory and support Young Lives vs Cancer.
Oli Russell said: “I wanted to do something, not only to honour Rhys’ memory, but to thank Young Lives vs Cancer for all their support. It was really bizarre. It was only because of the bleeding at the time, otherwise we wouldn’t have known for god knows how long. He must have known because he said it bled whenever he knocked or scratched his hair.”
Melanoma skin cancer is known for its ability to spread to various parts of the body, with primary symptoms often involving a mole or changes in an existing mole. Rhys, a passionate Manchester City supporter, received his diagnosis on November 21. Tragically, within a year, the cancer had progressed to stage four. Cancer Research UK states that 86% of skin cancer cases are preventable, yet over 17,500 new cases arise annually in the UK.
Rhys’ condition deteriorated rapidly, leading to multiple tumors spreading to his liver, heart, lungs, and back. Oli emphasized the importance of early detection and urged others to speak up about any health concerns.
Oli Russell said: “Just talk about it. I think there is a big misconception that people think melanoma is something old leather handbag people get because of how you are in the sun constantly and that is not always the case. It can be a genetic thing as well. If there is anything you notice on your body, even if it sounds trivial, just talk to someone about it and get checked because going through what we went through, especially in those last weight weeks, watching him waste away, literally not be able to walk, going into a wheelchair and be bedbound, and because the tumour was in his brain as well, it affected his behaviour. it is just surreal. But we are here now. We are trying to do what we can to help other people. If we can spread awareness to even one person, then it will save them hopefully going through what we have.”
Rhys’ final moments were spent watching a video of his hero, Jack Grealish, on Zoom. His last wish was to have his ashes spread at the Manchester City memorial garden. Oli, who humorously confessed to struggling with running up the stairs, is now preparing to run a marathon in Rhys’ honor. Contributions to support his marathon effort can be made through his fundraising page.
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