Friends who have known each other for 20 years are rallying together to help a father of three spend more time with his sons. Leon Skapars, 35, has been told he has no more than three years to live and will not see his youngest son grow past the age of five.
Diagnosis and Treatment
In March last year, the family went from planning their future together to fighting for more time after Leon was diagnosed with stage four kidney cancer. He started losing blood when urinating, had backache and flank pain. He visited Southport A&E and was told he had no infections but should return with a urine sample if things got worse. A doctor mentioned it could be cancer but said it was unlikely due to his young age. Feeling reassured, Leon was sent on his way with a leaflet for kidney stones.
On a family holiday in August 2025, things worsened and Leon began passing large blood clots. Upon returning to Southport, a CT scan confirmed an 8cm tumour.
His partner, Crystal Duffey, 30, said: 'He underwent major surgery in September to remove his kidney and the tumour. Pathology confirmed it was the most aggressive form of kidney cancer, sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma, stage three, grade four, with necrosis and rhabdoid features. When Leon was diagnosed, our world was turned completely upside down.'
Aggressive Cancer
Sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma (sRCC) is a highly aggressive, rare subtype of kidney cancer. Despite everything, Leon was 'determined to fight.' In December, he began immunotherapy, 'holding onto hope it would destroy any remaining cancer cells,' says Crystal. But just four months later, the family received the heartbreaking news that the cancer had spread to both lungs and lymph nodes in his chest.
Leon is now stage four and has been told his cancer is incurable. Crystal said: 'It has been an awful whirlwind, a rollercoaster of ups and downs to finding out the worst is happening. When Leon was diagnosed, I spent days sleeping on a chair next to him in hospital. I remember feeling fear. Leon was in shock, he couldn't speak. We were distraught.'
Family's Struggle
Crystal added: 'I lost my own dad when I was just six, and I know exactly what that loss does to a child. I can't bear the thought of our boys going through that. We've gone from planning our future to just trying to get more time, memories, birthdays and moments together. Leon just wants to live as long as possible to be there for his children.'
Their sons are aged two, three and ten. 'They are Leon's whole world. He has spent the last 18 years grafting hard as a self-employed plasterer. Anyone who knows Leon will tell you what a genuinely kind and decent man he is. He is the first person to offer a helping hand to anyone that needs it. This has all come out of the blue. Leon was a fit, active, healthy young man. It's devastating now watching him face this cruel disease.'
Fundraising Efforts
The NHS can no longer offer a cure, only a daily tablet to slow the disease. If the tablet doesn't slow it down, Leon could have only 12 months to live; if it does, it could give him up to three years. He has been enrolled in a clinical trial that, if successful, could help control the cancer for a short time. The family is desperately trying to raise funds to support Leon's limited treatment options.
Crystal set up a GoFundMe page to help raise money for her partner's treatment. She said: 'I'm 30 years old and facing the reality of losing the man I planned to spend my life with. We've gone from building our future to fighting for every extra moment together.'
To help the young family, Leon's friends are rallying together to walk 20 miles, one mile for every year they've known the devoted dad. The walk will take place from Southport Football Club to Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday, August 2, to raise vital funds for potentially life-saving treatment options.
