On my birthday in December 2016, I visited a consultant to check out what I had been told was probably an infection. After having an X-ray, ultrasound and blood test in less than 30 minutes (the NHS is amazing at times of real need), the consultant confirmed that I had testicular
cancer. I had an operation five days later and was unbelievably grateful to be given the all-clear in early January 2017.

I immediately decided I would do the 3 Peaks that summer to celebrate my
recovery.

But that, unfortunately, was not the end of the story. At my 3-month scan in April, they discovered that the cancer had spread to my stomach. After being told that there was only a 15% chance of recurrence in the first year, this really took the wind out of my sails. I needed chemotherapy and radiotherapy and it necessarily stopped me from training for my summer challenge.
Again, the NHS staff involved in my treatment were outstanding. When I returned to get my results in October, I was told that my stomach was clear of cancer but that the lymph nodes in my chest were enlarged. I was almost lost for words. A further scan in November confirmed that the change in my chest was likely a side effect of my treatment. On 1st December 2017, I once again got the all-clear - the greatest Christmas present ever!

I am one of the lucky ones. Everyone I spoke to throughout 2017, all of my friends, family and work colleagues, had their own story about cancer. It
is a disease that seems to touch everyone's lives at some stage, in some way.
Not everyone is so fortunate.

I have decided to fundraise for two charities, to give people who are generous enough to share their support a choice. Baggy Trousers UK is a testicular cancer charity. Testicular cancer has a high survival rate when detected early but I was not previously aware that it most commonly affects men between the ages of 16-44 - that seems scarily young to me. Many of the young men that the charity I work for, StreetGames, supports will be
at-risk. The more that can be done to raise awareness and increase early diagnosis, the better.

Macmillan Cancer Support provided a common-sense, easy to understand source of support, particularly when I was due to have chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Their person-centred website and printed materials helped me to understand some of what I would go through and took some of the worst fears away. They provide so many great services to support people with cancer and their families.

You immediately realise when you get a diagnosis for cancer what is important in your life. Like many people I have been guilty of being so busy that I have sometimes not spent enough time with friends and loved ones. Though 2017 was tough in many ways, the time I
spent with my family and friends was truly special and I am so grateful for their support and the support of the great team of people who will take part in and support the Challenge this July.

Please give what you can to help support more people to get the help they need to face cancer. Thank you.