Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

 

Well, what can I say. Just when you think things are going well, life has a strange way of bringing you back down to earth with a bump!

 

A little under a year ago (May 2010) I went for an appointment at the Royal Berkshire in Reading for what I thought would be a routine examination, having been a typical man & ignored a lump for a few months! Within a few minutes my life & outlook changed with just 2 words from the Consultant, "It's Cancer". What happened next was almost like looking in on someone else's life, it took on a surreal perspective, this is the stuff that happens to other people right?

From that moment I was allocated a specialist nurse who was my contact during my treatment programme (thanks to Bev Skellern, what a star you are!). I was immediately taken for blood tests and a chest X-Ray was booked for the following day. At this time I was booked in for an operation on the Monday, all of this was dealt with in under a week from my initial diagnosis. The day of the operation came and I was back home the same evening, slightly lighter & hobbling slightly!! I was then booked for a CT scan for the following week, with additional blood tests.

Finally, after what seems no time at all (all within one month) I was called in for the results where I then got a better 2 words from the Consultant, "All Clear". I was told that I would remain under the hospital for the next 5 years, with regular checks, scans & tests, I was also told that it would be advisable to undergo a single Chemotherapy treatment. My Chemotherapy was carried out (ironically on the longest day of the year!), apart from slight nausea & extreme tiredness all went well!!

 

I have two reason's for creating this site, one to raise money for the Orchid Charity, the other to raise the awaremess of these types of Cancer, which if caught early are easily treatable.

 

Orchid exists to save men's lives from testicular, prostate and penile cancers through pioneering research and promoting awareness.

 

37,000 men will be diagnosed with a male-specific cancer in 2010; from sons to grandfathers, men face the risk of prostate, penile or testicular cancer. Orchid plays a leading role in the fight against male cancer through research and awareness and by supporting patients.

 

 

 

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 and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.

 

From my part, my  company Tournoff Property Services will be donating a percentage of our invoiced business to this charity. I will also be arranging some activities to help raise money. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know!!

 

Finally I would like to say a massive thank you to Lizzie & Wills for their love & support. The roll call of family & friends (old & new) is too long to list here, but they all know who they are, they have all made a difference & helped enormously, respect to them all.

 

Many thanks must also go to Michelle Monahan of County Property Management for the generous donation of the use of her 36ft flybridge cruiser, the Secret Lady, for which we offered a pleasure trip for 2 as a private guest to the Isle of Wight for lunch. 

2011

I will be selling some of my local photographs during the first part of the year, I will let you all know where & when.