u can also text your donation to 70070 with the words SAIL64 £3 or your chosen amount between £1 and £10 Thank you for your support, every donation counts.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Hi, my name is Darren Robb and I live in Derry/Londonderry. I'm 47 years old and I started this journey in March 2011 when I was diagnosed with neck cancer.

I had to go to theatre for a "procedure" at Altnagalvin hospital as soon as possible as it was likely to spread and get bigger. I was having difficulty breathing and swallowing, if I had come forward earlier it may not have been so traumatic, I didn't for one second contemplate that it may be cancer I thought maybe it was a gland swelling that had sometimes happened when I was a kid having laryngitis they always went down eventually but not this time.Nothing prepared me for what was ahead an eight and a half hour operation taking a tumour  the size of a grapefruit out of the right hand side of my neck along with my salivaric gland and several lymph nodes it was twinded around my jugular vein complicating surgery.

After my recovery period from the operation, I had 32 sessions of radiation treatment. I was only one of dozens. This is where I met John Stewart a fine big fella from Newbuildings in Derry .

 

He was a young 19 year old full of fun and happiness his Mum Carol always by his side they had a bond that shone through with joy, he had a brain tumour and was also getting radiation treatment and later chemo.

We all stayed in the Glenview accommodation block adjacent to the city hospital cancer unit Belfast you got to know people here on a personal level in a very short time we all had one thing in common we wanted so much to live and beat this terrible disease in our group alone there are seven survivors alive today out of the original thirteen.

John was an inspiration to us all and sadly lost his battle on 9th February 2014 at the young age of 24. This Sailing my wee 24ft boat around Ireland fundraising event is dedicated to the memory of John Stewart, "a fine big man" a fighter to the end I will always remember big John, when you pass through this journey together you have a bond for life.

MacMillan Cancer Support have provided so much help in preparing us all or our journey from start to end. Their counsellors have been really focused on each individuals' needs, whether it be advice, just someone to talk to and a cup of tea, or financial support. You never think it will happen to you, please God it will never but if it does rest assured Macmillan will take the fear away they did for me and as long as I am healthy enough to do so I will be helping them help other people like me

Please help me raise money for MacMillan cancer support this is truly a worthy cause thank you for your support. 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.