The Cancer Club is a charity founded in 2020 by my friend Liz’s brother, Matthew Wiltshire. This is his story.

When I was diagnosed with bowel cancer back in 2015, my world turned upside down.

Suddenly there was a whole new universe to make sense of and navigate. There was the fear of treatment, the fear of my prognosis, and the overwhelming fear that I wouldnt be around to look after my family as long as Id planned. One thing was certain, I felt lonely and isolated. However sympathetic and understanding my friends and family tried to be, there was a gulf between their experience of this situation and mine.

Our mission is to get men talking by taking them to a variety of sporting events where they can connect over common experiences and gain emotional support from others in the same boat. We also want to provide an outlet, a way to escape the everyday grind created by cancer, bringing some light-hearted relief and enjoyment to the lives of those living with a difficult diagnosis.