Watch: Why am I doing this? and follow on Instagram @cancerrehabworks

I survived cancer. I am grateful to be alive. I am one of the lucky ones. The treatment saved my life but it also changed my life, my health and my fitness forever. I battled with cancer; I battled with the side effects of treatment; I battled with the side effects on my body post treatment and I continue to battle with the side effects of ongoing medication which prevents the cancer returning. My story isn't unique, hundreds of thousands of people are diagnosed and treated for cancer every year in the UK and they too face the same battles I did, and still do. They too are left with the scars of treatment. Very few patients in the UK are told about the positive impact of exercise on their health. Very few patients in the UK are told that exercise can improve their outcomes and relieve some of the side effects of the treatment. Specialist cancer rehabilitation is available in the UK. There are physiotherapists with a specialism in cancer prehab and rehab but it's not available through the NHS: it's only available to those fortunate enough to be able to pay for it. The NHS currently doesn't fund this 'wonder drug'.

Since I have been fortunate enough to receive treatment from one of these specialists, my life has changed...again. I still take medication but now I can walk down the stairs in the morning, I don't ache all the time, I can row! I haven't had a scan for two years; no more aches and pains = no more precautionary scans = no more cancer scares.

I want this 'wonder drug' to be available to all patients. Cancer has 'touched' everyone. You could help someone you know that is receiving treatment right now, you could also help someone you know that has survived to keep it that way! That's why I rowed the length of the river Nene, 100miles/161km on a rowing machine over ten days. Thank you to Northamptonshire County Cricket Club and Northampton Saints for their pitch-side locations! Thank you to Stronglines Physio, Carly Wilford, Jack Goodman, The Little Bakery of Happiness, Doughonthen and my fellow rowers for making the last 10 miles achievable!

Please sponsor me. I need to raise £5,000 to be able to formally register my charity Cancer Rehab Works. All the money I raise will fund the prehab and rehabilitation of as many cancer patients possible. My aim is to fund specialist physiotherapy, bespoke exercise groups and access to gyms and sport clubs. By doing this, we can help cancer patients and enable them to restore their quality of life and give them the best chance of stopping the disease from returning.

In November 2020, Macmillan published an article: "Physical Activity and Cancer: the underrated wonder drug". In it, they said that, "Supporting people to be physically active from diagnosis through to end of life has been called a ‘wonder drug’. It has a crucial role to play in both prehabilitation and rehabilitation." It is proven to reduce the side effects of treatment, improve outcomes and also improve the chances of survival. So surely this 'wonder drug' should be readily available to cancer patients? I am petitioning the Government to make cancer rehabilitation a standard part of treatment. Sign the petition: Provide more funding for the physical rehabilitation of cancer patients