Harrogate grandfather rebuilds life after cancer thanks to exercise service supported by Leeds United’s Jack Harrison

A Harrogate grandfather has revealed how research-backed cancer exercise treatment is helping him rebuild strength and stamina, during a visit from Leeds United footballer Jack Harrison.

David Rance, 78, was diagnosed with throat cancer last year after noticing a persistent chesty cough during a walking trip with two of his three daughters.

Before his diagnosis, David says his “life was full”. He sang in a rock band, enjoyed playing golf, tennis and lawn bowls, and had recently completed long-distance walking challenges including the 192-mile coast-to-coast walk and the Inca Trail in Peru.

But following six weeks of intensive radiotherapy, he lost significant weight, stamina and his singing voice.

Thanks to Active Together Harrogate, which is funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) and designed by experts at Sheffield Hallam University’s Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC), he is now slowly building back his fitness and getting back to the activities he enjoys. 

Leeds United winger Jack Harrison visited the Yorkshire Cancer Research centre in Harrogate to meet Active Together members, join a cancer exercise class and tour the facilities, which include two exercise studios, a cafe and a shop.

Jack’s support for the charity began in 2022 when Yorkshire Cancer Research was the official charity partner of Leeds United. He decided to raffle his Leeds United match shirt, with fans raising more than £30,000.

Among the raffle’s supporters was Andreas Dracopoulos, Co-President of SNF. A lifelong Leeds United fan, Andreas donated $10,000, sparking conversations that led to SNF pledging £835,000 through its Global Health Initiative (GHI) to support the first three years of Active Together, the charity's pioneering cancer exercise treatment programme, in Harrogate.

“What started as a simple shirt raffle has grown into something truly special, thanks to the generosity of supporters like Andreas and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. Meeting the members and joining a cancer exercise class was inspiring. Their strength and determination is something we can all learn from.”

Since David was diagnosed, his youngest daughter has married. With three grandsons, he says his experience of cancer has changed his focus in life.

David added: “My wife used to say I was ‘cavalier’, but I’m not anymore. I’m very grateful and careful now, and I believe Active Together has been a big part of helping me both physically and emotionally. 

“The visit from Jack Harrison was important and inspirational. I’ve never met a footballer who is as friendly and engaging as he was. Jack was genuine in his support and concern and that radiated from him. I hope it helps raise awareness of the importance of exercise for people with cancer.”

As part of Yorkshire Cancer Research’s aim to provide research-backed exercise treatment to everyone diagnosed with cancer in Yorkshire, more than 3,000 people across the region have now been given the opportunity to take part in Active Together, which is designed to help people prepare for and recover from cancer treatment.  

In addition to Harrogate, Active Together is currently provided in Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven, Barnsley, Doncaster and Bassetlaw, Rotherham, Sheffield, Wakefield and North Kirklees, and a new centre will open in Hull in 2026.

The service is underpinned by well-established scientific evidence that shows exercise can increase survival, improve recovery from treatment and reduce the risk of cancer coming back.  

An evaluation of the service in Sheffield found that people who took part in Active Together were more likely to survive at least one year after their diagnosis compared to people with cancer that did not participate in the service.  

Through Active Together, Yorkshire Cancer Research aims to demonstrate the life-saving impact of personalised exercise to the worldwide research community and to those who deliver cancer treatment, including the NHS, so exercise can be prescribed to everyone with cancer, no matter who they are or where they live.    

As well as funding Active Together in Harrogate for three years, SNF is supporting a research exchange programme in partnership with Yorkshire Cancer Research, Greece-based nonprofit organisation Regeneration & Progress (R&P) through the “Sports Excellence” programme, which operates under the scientific supervision of the 1st Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) at Attikon University General Hospital, and Sheffield Hallam University’s AWRC. The programme aims to advance global understanding of the benefits of exercise on cancer treatment.