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Nairn RAF Station Commander inspired by brother’s Stage 4 bowel cancer ordeal





A former RAF Station Commander will cycle 60km in honour of his karate instructor brother with Stage 4 cancer, who has “fighting spirit in spades”.

Retired Group Captain Christopher Birks, RAF Kinloss Station Commander between 2004 and 2006, said he had been inspired by his karate instructor brother’s “fighting spirit”.

Group Captain (retired) Christopher Birks and Austin Birks in July 2023.
Group Captain (retired) Christopher Birks and Austin Birks in July 2023.

On September 7, 67-year-old Christopher is set to ride in the Tour de 4 event established by Sir Chris Hoy in the wake of his own Stage 4 cancer diagnosis to support Cancer Research.

However, his brother Austin Birks - a 6th Dan black belt in Shokotan Karate - is also undertaking his own challenge.

Even though the 65-year-old can “barely walk 100 yards” due to severe damage to both hips, Christopher said his brother is determined to cycle 20 minutes on a static bike to show his own support.

Both brothers have set up GoFundMe pages in support of their efforts and have already raised nearly £2000 between them.

In 2019, Austin was diagnosed with Stage 4 bowel cancer and given just six months to live after doctors found a “mammoth tumor” which had “burst into his stomach”, Christopher said.

Karate instructor Austin Birks is a novelist, blogger, senior transport industry leader and a 6th Dan in Shokotan Karate...Picture: Submitted
Karate instructor Austin Birks is a novelist, blogger, senior transport industry leader and a 6th Dan in Shokotan Karate...Picture: Submitted

His brother was thought to be in the clear after the operation, but the cancer was later found to have returned.

And, in devastating news, the cancer was recently found to have spread again after a second major operation.

In total, the karate instructor has endured 120 sessions of chemotherapy.

Throughout the process, Austin has also been “rushed to hospital” in the wake of heart attacks after treatment complications caused blood clots in his lungs.

He has now been switched from chemotherapy to radiotherapy, while having to fit this treatment around an urgently-needed double hip replacement.

Group Captain (retired) Christopher Birks is set to undertake a 60km cycle in honour of his brother...Picture: Submitted
Group Captain (retired) Christopher Birks is set to undertake a 60km cycle in honour of his brother...Picture: Submitted

However, despite the awful circumstances he has faced since 2018, Christopher said Austin’s resilience and fighting spirit has been “incredible”.

The retired Group Captain, who lives near Nairn, said that during his time in the RAF he was “always trying to instill a fighting spirit in people”.

“My brother has got that fighting spirit in spades,” he added.

“He proves it on a daily basis in a totally different environment.

“He has a motto from his karate: ‘Never give up, never give in’.

“And that's what he has lived by, he has lived every day to the full.

“I'm intensely proud of the way he's sort of faced it.

“He has never let it get him down at all.”

Despite being in a nightmare situation for many, Austin has managed to not only stay active and positive but to achieve some incredible milestones.

After being fitting with a stoma bag following his first operation, the karate instructor created the Bag for Life blog, where he would share his experiences to raise awareness about people going through similar struggles.

He also wrote a book, called My Journey, recalling his experiences of life during his career in the bus industry and performed stand-up comedy three times, through the Cancer Research event Stand Up to Cancer.

Christopher, who between 1998 and 2001 commanded the 201 Squadron which is now based at RAF Lossiemouth, said his entire family had been “incredibly inspired” by Austin’s remarkable spirit.

“He's just incredible. He just keeps going,” he said.

“He didn't think he'd live to 60 but he just keeps going, it's incredible.

“To me, he epitomizes what Chris Hoy is trying to do in terms of showing people you can still live your life, no matter what the diagnosis.

“He proves that no matter how ill he might feel, he can still live life to the full.

“I'm one of four, we've got two sisters, and we've all been incredibly inspired by him.”

Christopher added: “The more we can do for cancer research, the better.

“It hit my brother in his late 50s.

“You expect it in the older generation, like your parents, but when it's your own generation it brings it home.

“The more money we can raise to help people, the better.”


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