**The funds raised are specifically for The Head, Neck and Thyroid Cancer Fund of the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust**

Well, around about this time last year I was diagnosed with Cancer. I am very pleased to say a year or so on, I am hopefully on the right side of it now, although fingers always remain firmly crossed and faith unwaivering, with monitoring and subsequent therapy ongoing.

The pain, confusion, anger and upset as well as concern for the impact on my loved ones is indelible in my memory of that day and the days and months following.

The last year or so has been a testing and trying time, punctuated by surgery, hospital stays for treatment, trying to get dosing of meds correct and such like. As a result of forced inactivity and surgery etc, I gained a tremendous amount of weight, having got down to a very acceptable weight prior to this episode.

So my mission is to shift this weight and at the same time serve as a way of giving something back to those who helped me so much.continued below.... 

I have kept this fight a private fight up until now, only sharing with those that 'needed' to know, and of course my family (excluding my young children). But family, friends, colleagues and many of the clinicians I encountered have done a wonderful job in helping and supporting me. But it is the work of the expert Surgeon, Oncologist and Specialist Nurses of the Head and Neck Cancer team that have really done the most tremendous job, and I haven't been an easy patient to deal with as some of you may have guessed. But these guys are some of the most amazing clinicians I have ever come across professionally and personally. They need our help though. They are looking to provide specialist equipment (not traditionally provided by the NHS) to alleviate some of the severe symptoms of this disease for those that can't afford to buy or hire their own. They have begun a special support drop in clinic/group for all H&N cancer patients and their families, this is an essential service. There are a million questions at every moment when you have a diagnosis like this, you need lots of support, information and reassurance, these guys give that.

This drop in service should be warm and inviting, so funding for tea, biscuits and such like would be nice.

Also it would be great to be able to support the specialist nurses in even further training to always be able offer the latest and best care to all patients. 

I hope you will see that this is a worthy cause and give as generously as you can.

Sadly each and every one of us will be affected by this disease at some point whether personally, though a friend or relative.

Please believe me when I say it can be a dark and worrying place to find yourself, no matter your background, character or outlook, you need informed and objective support and guidance.

So that's me, that's why, no takeaways, plush restaurants or other indulgences ahead - just lots of cash please and certainly no sympathy :) Oh and tick the gift aid box if you are UK tax payer, George Osborne has to give us more money, in fact 25% on top of whatever you donate, plus justgiving apparently have to take a small fee and i'd rather it came out of your gift aid payment than your donation, its costs you nothing so please tick.

Weight log:

opening shocker: 126kg!!!! (weekly updates will appear here) and I want to lose 4st (~26.5kg) just to be under 100kg

Latest weight 119kg so I think I am good for your money :) I will keep going strong

3/3/14 latest weight in 103.5kg still pushing on and getting close to my weight target, but I have a big fundraising target to hit of £5,000 so all donations gratefully received

4/7/14 latest weight 84kg! and still going as hard as I can but as you can imagine its getting very tough. 

Thank you all so very much in advance, but please don't let my weight  loss challenge be a distraction please give generously anyway!!