*** UPDATE

Hi everybody!

I am sorry to say that despite my best efforts, I am unable to take part in the Hampton Court Half this Sunday. I've been trying to work through an injury with my physio for the past 8 weeks which has prevented me from running. We've done our best to get me ready, but its a race against time that cannot be won.

I will be shifting all of my focus now towards the full marathon in April.

If you are happy for your donations to be used towards that event I would be extremely grateful.

I still have every intention to try and complete the race and I am so grateful for your generosity.

Ben

////////

Why am I running a marathon and a half for Sarcoma UK?

A little earlier this year I noticed a lump on my back. At first I thought it was a pulled muscle or training injury. I took a couple weeks off from Jiu Jitsu to recover. When it didn’t go away I saw my GP, who initially said it was nothing to worry about, but sent me for an ultrasound. The ultrasound raised question marks. Two days later I was having an MRI, the following week a biopsy, and shortly thereafter I was given the mind-blowing news, I was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer called Sarcoma. Sarcoma is a soft tissue and bone cancer that is notoriously hard to diagnose and treat. It is very rare, sarcoma accounts for just 1% of all cancer diagnosis, and the specific type I had accounts for just 5% of that 1%, or more easily put, 0.0005% of all cancers that are diagnosed.

I was aware of the statistics prior to this, 1 in 2 men, and 1 in 3 women will develop some form of cancer in their lifetime. But statistics have a habit of taking on a different meaning when you become one. The news shook me, I felt as though I was walking around with a gun to my head. It has been a very challenging time for myself and my family, but we’ve remained strong, positive, and determined to work through this NO MATTER WHAT. 

I had surgery at the Royal National Orthopaedic hospital in Stanmore which involved removing the lump and part of two of my ribs.

The next step would be 30 sessions of radiotherapy, delivered over 6 weeks, which I am beyond thrilled to say I completed today.

I am so grateful for the incredible people who have helped me so far, the surgeons, doctors, nurses, support staff, researchers, radiographers, oncologists, and everybody who chose to go into this line of work, to help people like me (who they’ve never met), get better. Without people doing this work, there would be no hope.

I hope that my story will raise awareness about Sarcoma, something I had never heard of just a few months ago. If you ever have any lumps or bumps you are not sure about, make sure you go see your doctor.

I will be running the Hampton Court Half Marathon on the 15^th March 2020 to raise money and awareness for Sarcoma UK. I will follow this with the London Marathon on the 26th April. I hope that your kind donations will in future help people like me get better.

Thank you so much for your generosity.

Ben X