My name is Richard,  I am 41. I was first diagnosed with Cancer when I was 38 and little did I know that this was just the start of my battle. Like many others facing diagnosis, it felt like my whole world was collapsing and for a long time, I denied that I had this illness an the severity of it, it started as a mole on my head which turned out to be Stage 3 skin melanoma. Next, I found myself having a large section of my scalp removed and I believed that this was the end of my cancer journey. Over the course of the next few months, I began coming to terms with the surgery and the impact that it had on me mentally. Months passed as I began to move on thinking that the cancer had gone only to later find that it had spread to my lymph nodes behind my ear. This was soon met with another operation to have this removed. I tried to keep my thoughts positive whilst thinking “is this the way that things are going to go” and again not quite understanding the situation that I was in, denying to myself that this was happening to me.  

The cancer progressed to the lymph nodes in my neck where I
had a full neck dissection. This was a real shock for me and I started to
realize how serious this situation had become. The day I was due to leave the hospital, I was told the devastating news that the cancer had spread to my brain, I felt that my whole world had turned upside down and that there was no way of getting out of this.  Over the course of the next few months, any hope that I was trying to find was quickly squashed by the radiotherapy not responding the way that we had all hoped. I was soon told that the best solution was to have the tumour removed by way of brain surgery. The thought was terrifying but the surgery went ahead and followed by another course radiotherapy, i thought that this was surely the end.After I another scan, I was to learn that the tumour had grown back I felt completely hopeless and scared and I did not know what was going to happen. I began to question everything - was there anything that they could do to stop this? How and when is this going to end? Would this ever end? I was soon to learn of a new drug that was available for my type of tumour and that it could potentially help it to reduce in size. This filled me with hope for my future and I started this treatment in April of last year. The tumour has responded well to the treatment, reducing in size and this has installed tremendous hope and belief that living with cancer is not the end of the road. This journey has taught me the importance of living life one day at a time and to be grateful for everything I have. The journey has turned from one of confusion and lack of acceptance to complete gratitude for the second chance that I now have.  Without this I wouldn’t be able to share the hope that I have found for the future and for living with cancer. My next scan will fall 3 weeks before the “Walk From the Rock”and I truly believe this will have a positive outcome not only for me, but to those also faced with this illness.

Learning to live with cancer hasn’t been a smooth ride, however the strength and commitment from the staff at the Beatson Cancer Charity has not only helped me with my fight but it has also given me strength, courage and a new hope. I want to get involved as much as I can to stand with them in this fight against this deadly disease and I have nothing but gratitude towards this charity and also to the Beatson Oncology Centre that it supports.Without them, I truly believe that I would never of been able to move on and experience life the way I do today. I will be eternally grateful for the Beatson Cancer Charity and hospital for bringing me back to life. 

“ WALK FROM THE ROCK”

The walk from the rock is just a small gesture of gratitude towards Beatson Cancer Charity and for the kindness and strength that it has brought not only to me, but to my family as well. Cancer effects so many people in so many different ways and at times, we don’t know where to turn. The charity supports patients and families at all different stages of their journey, bringing comfort and hope to everyone effected by cancer.By standing together in an act of solidarity we are showing our determination to beat cancer. We shall walk from Dumbarton Rock to the Beatson Cancer Centre on the 16thApril 2016 by doing this we are able to raise funds and support Beatson Cancer Charity to continue to help the people of today and tomorrow who could be faced with this illness right here in SCOTLAND !!!!

  http://www.beatsoncancercharity.org

https://www.plotaroute.com/route/183489