Update:
I am no longer eligible to take part in the boxing match as I did not meet a mandatory ticket sales requirement. I'm really sorry and am personally gutted that I am no longer allowed to train or take part in the event. Your donations will still go to Cancer Research UK.

I have already signed up to do a 15km Tough Mudder event in September as an alternative challenge, and I also have my eye on a spartan run too.

Thank you all for your continued support.

In 2021, through some persuasion because I am a stubborn man, I went to the GP about a cyst on my left eyelid just below my tear duct that I had had for a year or so but had recently been growing larger. I was told that it would need be removed, and the date of the surgery was very close. At the time it didn't ring any alarm bells. I thought it would be a quick visit, but when they wheeled me into theatre with 10+ people I realised that this was going to be more intense than I expected. Due to the very delicate location, I had to be anaesthetised multiple times next to my eye during the operation as I was feeling the scalpel, but even when it was fully numb, I was still very aware that a sharp blade was millimeters from my eyeball.

Shortly afterwards I was called back to hospital when they told me that the 'cyst' was actually a Basel Cell Carcinoma; a form of skin cancer.  Hearing that news made me just numb, and my mind went blank, I wasn't really able to understand all the words that the doctor was saying over the next 10 minutes.

Fortunately, a BCC is a very mild form of cancer and very slow growing. The tricky bit was its location and my journey is still ongoing to ensure that it has gone for good.

Others however are not so lucky and I cannot even image how awful it would be to hear that you or a loved one has a more serious form of cancer.

Cancer is an awful disease that is merciless and can affect anyone at any time. Please donate to Cancer Research so that we can find a way to consign this to the annals of history.

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.