London music teacher Nathaniel Dye remembered for cancer awareness campaigning

Nathaniel Dye, a 40-year-old London music teacher diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in 2023, died on 29 January; he raised more than £37,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support while campaigning for better screening. The government published its National Cancer Plan days after his death, and routine bowel screening age will be lowered to 50 in April.

Nathaniel Dye, a 40-year-old music teacher from east London, was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in 2023 and died on 29 January. From diagnosis he set out to raise awareness of cancer symptoms and to press for better screening in the capital. He organised and completed public challenges and fundraising events and was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his campaigning. His death came days before the government published its National Cancer Plan, which includes measures to improve early diagnosis. Key facts: - Dye was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in 2023 and died on 29 January. - He raised more than £37,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support through challenges such as long-distance walks and running the London Marathon while playing the trombone, and he received an MBE for his campaigning. - The government's National Cancer Plan was published days after his death, routine bowel screening age will be lowered from 54 to 50 in April, and Macmillan has highlighted persistent inequities in cancer diagnosis in parts of London. Summary: Dye focused his campaigning on raising awareness of symptoms and improving screening uptake, particularly in areas with lower participation. His fundraising and public profile drew attention to screening and diagnosis ahead of the National Cancer Plan and the forthcoming change to the screening age. The immediate policy change noted in coverage is the lowering of routine screening age to 50 in April.