Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

For those that don't know I got a cancer diagnosis back in September of 2019 (not a straightforward one as I tend not to do things by halves). I was diagnosed with a mixed tumour consisting of Neuroendocrine and Bowel Cancer. I underwent fairly major surgery in Belfast to have the tumour removed which I later found out was "roughly the size of a cantaloupe melon". Haven't got my hands on one yet but from what I can tell they're relatively big when it comes to the niche of 'items of fruit to compare a tumour to'.

In December 2019 I started chemotherapy to target Neuroendocrine Cancer which I then completed on April Fool's Day in 2020. Fast forward to August, after getting to spend a few amazing weeks back home in Scotland with family when restrictions eased, and the results of a scan showed that the bowel cancer had spread and so I started back chemotherapy at the end of the month. So far the treatment has been successful and got the cancer under control so we're fairly optimistic looking forward.This time around my chemo schedule involves 12 cycles two weeks apart. At the time of writing I've completed 11 and only have one left, which is class because chemo is pretty shit. 

We've got a dug now and have been getting out wee daily walks where we can, sometimes one lap of Brooke Park across the road with a bottle of chemo attached to my waist and sometimes a decent loop walk in the woods on my good weeks. In doing this I noticed there was a 100km January Walk Challenge on Strava which has got me motivated to get at it and get out there when I can. Then it dawned on me it was the type of thing folk might see as a good excuse to throw money at a good cause! So given how much help the charity 'Friends of the Cancer Centre' have been to me and Enya, both in Belfast and in Derry, it seemed like a no-brainer to try and return them a favour if I can.

While 100km in a month isn't a huge amount of walking, especially considering there is practically nothing else to do these days, doing it in a month where I also have my last two cycles of chemo has definitely upped the "challenge" aspect of it. So if your game to throw a few quid towards a charity that genuinely makes a huge difference to cancer patients then here's yer chance.

I'll keep the page updated with progress etc.

BE SOUND. DIG DEEP.

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