Man with Incurable Cancer Begins Teaching Role

An individual living with incurable cancer has embarked on a new career in teaching. Chris Johnson, a resident of Sunderland, was diagnosed with a gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) in 2019 at the age of 40. In 2020, he received a prognosis indicating he had between two and five years to live. He has now been appointed as a learning support assistant at Southmoor Academy in the city. Mr Johnson stated: “I’m a sucker for a challenge and I want my life to be about what I can do, not what I can’t do.” Since his diagnosis, Mr Johnson has raised over £40,000 for a children’s cancer charity. He achieved this by undertaking challenges including the London Marathon, walking Hadrian’s Wall, and the Three Peaks. Nevertheless, he mentioned that the Great North Run this year would be his final race, leading him to search for a new purpose. He explained: “I’ve been a school governor, and I did a bit of invigilating for exams and quite enjoyed it, so over the summer I did a few training courses” He added: “This job came up, working with children with additional needs, so I applied and got it.” Although his cancer had been stable for three years, a recent scan revealed that it had resumed growth. The treatment for his condition carries side-effects, which he described as “annoying but manageable,” including frequent trips to the bathroom, extreme fatigue, dry skin, and sore feet. Mr Johnson remarked: “I can’t really do the big running challenges any more,” adding: “But I still want to make a difference to children’s lives.” “I might only have a couple of years to live but I know I can still help people,” he added.