Cancer survivor hopes surf camp will change lives

A double cancer survivor has credited surfing with helping him rediscover his identity after life-changing surgery.

Stephen Downes lost his left arm, shoulder, collarbone, three ribs and part of his chest wall during surgery for myxofibrosarcoma, a rare form of soft tissue cancer, in 2022.

But he was determined to return to the sport he loved and went on to become two-time English kneeboard surfing champion.

Downes, from Newquay in Cornwall, said he felt "a moral obligation to give back" and set up The Dawn Patrol Project surf camp held in Bristol to bring together other people suffering from sarcoma cancers.

Downes, who was treated 20 years ago for Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system, was a lifelong surfer when his sarcoma was diagnosed.

Despite the major surgery needed, he said he wanted to return to surfing. "What was the point in going through all this surgery, all this pain, all this trauma to not try and do it again," he said.

The sport remained a target throughout his recovery. Downes said the feeling of being back in the water was "incredible" but there was more to his comeback than the physical challenges.

"There's a mental and emotional aspect to it, you're very aware of how you look. From an able bodied person to someone with an arm missing."

Following the sport's role in his own recovery, Downes founded The Dawn Patrol Project to help other people affected by sarcoma return to the water.

The first Surfing through Sarcoma camp was held at The Wave, Bristol, with eight participants taking part in three days of beginner surf lessons.

Downes said it was about more than surfing as it connected people who had similar life experiences.

"For those three days at The Wave, we built this wonderful small community of people, it was accepting, it was empathetic, it was kind," he said.

"It's three days that's going to change their lives, three of the best days of their lives."

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