Scarborough Man Runs 5k Around Car with a Horse to Help Paralysed Woman Get Home

A Scarborough man has turned to an unconventional training regime to support his girlfriend’s mother in her arduous journey to return home after being left paralysed by cancer.

Tom Johnson has committed to a daily 5k running challenge to raise vital funds for Louise Stacey, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma last year.

The fundraising efforts reached a unique milestone this week when Mr Johnson celebrated hitting a £10,000 target by completing his daily run in a stable yard. Speaking about the variety of his challenges, Mr Johnson said:

"I'm running 5K every day till the targets met for Louise's GoFundMe.

I've done this in various different ways. So, for hitting £10,000, I ran 5K around my car last night, which actually I set my strava up wrong and it was set to 5 miles. So, that went a bit harder than I thought.

It was at horses stable as well, so there was a horse with me.

I've done a 5K with my little boy on my shoulders. And then I've just done general runs each day explaining up dates and how people can help in different ways".

The motivation behind these physical feats is deeply personal. Mrs Stacey’s life was "turned upside down" in early 2025 when what she initially thought was severe back and shoulder pain was revealed to be an aggressive cancer. As the lymphoma pressed against her spine, she became paralysed from the chest down within days of her diagnosis.

While Mrs Stacey is now in remission, the path home remains blocked by physical and logistical barriers. She is currently receiving care in Wakefield, approximately two hours away from her family in Scarborough, having previously spent time in hospitals in York, Leeds, and at Castle Hill and Pinderfields.

Tom explained the urgent need for funds to facilitate her return and what the fundraising money will be used for:

"It'll be used on certain medical treatments in regards to the physio and trying to get Lou towards a couple of steps.

It will go to accessibility in the house. We're looking at getting her a wet room and her own bedroom downstairs. The builders who I've spoke to who have gone through the council, etc. It could take up to 4 years to get all the building through, but all Louise wants is a family back and to see her.

With her being 2 hours away in Wakefield at the moment. The family only managed to get to see her one or two times a week.

She's been in Wakefield for about 5 months. She's been to Castle Hill, Pinderfields, Leads, and York. So, they've all been travelling".

The impact of Mrs Stacey’s absence is felt heavily by her daughter, Amy, who is Mr Johnson’s girlfriend. At just 21 years old, Amy has taken on the mantle of "running the family" while balancing her own career aspirations.

Describing the pressure on his partner, Mr Johnson said:

"My girlfriend, she's 21 and she's currently looking after her granddad who lives at the bottom of the street who's blind. Her dad works abroad, so she's running the family. Her younger brother is autistic, so that has its own little challenges to help him.

And she's also managing a uni degree and she's just gone to 8 weeks of work placement in a primary school. So, she doesn't have a lot of time".

The community has rallied behind the family, with the GoFundMe page having raised over £12,600 toward a £14,000 goal. Mr Johnson noted that while the running is difficult, the outpouring of support for Mrs Stacey, who initially "didn't want to make a fuss," is what keeps him moving.

Looking toward the final push for the target, Mr Johnson shared his plans for a community-led event:

"The enjoyment is not the running for me, but the support is just driving me to do that. And Louise has received a lot of messages. At first, she kept it to herself because she didn't want to make a fuss, but it's come to this now where we're asking for help.

We're looking to hit 14,000. And I've just come up with another idea that I'm currently promoting is asking for raffle prizes, local businesses and individuals. And we're going to host a big raffle. Sunday will be the deadline. and we'll put out the tickets and then we'll live stream a big raffle to everyone".

As the daily runs continue, the family remains focused on the singular goal of bringing Mrs Stacey back to Scarborough, where she can be surrounded by her children, her grandson, and the comforts of home.

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Louise's go Fund Me page can be found at 

Anyone with donations for this Sunday's fundraising raffle can make contact with Tom via email at tjohns352@gmail.com