It's never welcome news to hear a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer. But when this loved one is a young, healthy, active 19 year old whose smile and energy make the lives of all those who know him a little brighter, the news is particularly cruel.

In March this year, my cousin Dylan was diagnosed with lymphoma. Almost immediately, he took the news as just another challenge - he was going to fight this and he was going to beat it. His fantastic family have survived so many things together, not least the tragic loss of their firstborn James from cot death. They've been far braver and more positive about this than I could ever be in their situation.

Unfortunately, battles aren't won alone. Dylan was recently informed his chemotherapy hadn't been effective and is now having to explore alternative options. His mum Karen has consequently given up work in order to care for him, which has made an already difficult situation even harder, saying 'Even if I lose my house, I don't care so long as Dylan is okay'. Anything that can be done to make a situation like that easier is something worth doing.

I therefore want to raise as much as I can to ease my family's troubles in the short-term and ease the troubles of the thousands of others in the same boat in the long term. To this end, I'm pledging to give up alcohol for November.

(I realise this is less of a mammoth task than running marathons and climbing mountains, but as anyone who knows me will know, it will have a significant impact on my life!)

I aim to split whatever I raise to give 60% to Dylan and his family and 40% to the Lymphoma Association. I'll also give a £5 penalty for any time I lapse.

Anything you would like to give would be fantastic - or if you can't, I would equally appreciate spreading the word about it.

You can read more about Dylan's journey here: http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/to-hear-words-you-cancer-12079846