Update NEW QR code created.

Update 08-10-25

Hi All, Oncologist wants me to have 3 sessions of Chemo and 12 months of Immunotherapy. Not going to be fun the side effects sound brilliant, but I can run if I feel like it.. Chemo starts 24/10/25 as does Immunotherapy.

Update 03-10-25

Hi Everyone.

Just UNDER a month to go until 12 of you get to the start line of the Cornish Marathon 2025. I sadly wont join you on the start line, I would if I could !

I am seeing an Oncologist on Tuesday, I was hoping seeing an Oncologist would be avoided. I of course hoped the cancer would not spread, its even hard typing the word Cancer. So That is the last time I will type it...

My fitness is improving but I am a long way from where I was before the operation on 3rd July - Wow was it really 3 months ago ??

Its been great back running with the club, I am not sure effects the treatment will have on me, but I will run if I can.

I see you all soon and update you after Tuesday.

Update 19-09-25

Hi, Great quiz last night with £400.00 raised across the evening from raffle ticket sales and quiz team entries.

Thank you to everyone that joined us and special thanks to Clive, Kate and Isobel who helped run the evening. Also thank you to Elaine and Dave Philp and Lou and Ben Harding who donated the prize of £100 back into the charity.

Update --18-09-25

So its the BIG quiz tonight starting at 7.30 at the LDSA sports club next to the bar. All donations will go directly to Fight Bladder Cancer Charity.

We will have a card machine again so you can pay for your team by card or of course cash, bring some change if you are paying by cash. There will be lots of raffle prizes hopefully !! We have bought a few..

The winning team will get £100 cash and the team that is last will receive a bitter prize !!

If you are QUIZZING tonight and can bring a raffle prize that would be great, biscuits, vouchers whatever you can spare.

See you all later

Update 15-09-25

Great result at the weekend with The Turkey Trot, £165.00 raise !

Update 10-09-25.

So we have a fundraising quiz set for Thursday 18th starting at 7 ish !!!

See you all then !!

Update 02-09-25

So with just 2 months to go until the CM25, we have established a great team of 13 runners. Our first fundraising event is set for 18th September 2025. I hope we can raise loads of awareness and money during the QUIZ. Clive Shute is going to be the quiz master and am looking forward to it. There will be a fun Bladder Cancer awareness round as part of the quiz, this I hope will raise the awareness of what to look for... I will be back out running with the Club on Wednesday 3rd September and I am starting to build up the mileage as my fitness starts to return SLOWLY !!!

Update 07-08-25

So an update for you, STOMA has settled to the size of 28mm, that means my bags can be sent pre cut so I dont have to cut them myselfs.. I was fitted for a Hernia belt, this has to be worn to prevent hernias on the Stoma site. We are going on Holiday next Tuesday and we are looking forward to it, although it will be my first with Billy (the name for my stoma) how he copes with the heat could be a challenge !!

As we get closer I will try and get the group of runners together to gather ideas etc, see you after my holiday !!...

Update 31-07-25

Hi, so its been 4 weeks since the operation and 3 weeks since I got home. My strength is coming back gradually and I am now walking a mile a day at a brisk pace. On Wednesday 30th July, Sarah and Lucy popped in to say Hi and to catch up, they brought me a lovely HAMPER full of goodies, some healthy and some not !! SEE PICTURE.

I am getting use to Billy and he seems to be behaving, I have changed bags and they seem to be sticking better. Although last night he did decide to spring a leak at midnight.

We also have a 13th runner join our team Gareth Price has decided to run for fight bladder cancer as unfortunately his brother has recently been diagnosed with Bladder Cancer and will have to go through bladder removal. I wish Gareth's brother all the best in his treatment and recovery !!!!

Update 23-07-25

So I thought I would pop up an update of how things are going. I am gradually building up my strength by walking the field a few times a day. Every day I can feel things are getting stronger and wounds are healing up nicely, although there are a few stiches starting to poke through the wounds, this is normal by all accounts as the body rejects the stiches and they make their way out of the body.

I have finally decided on the bag type for BILLY see picture and there was a lot of choice, I have to get a prescription for them but I am now exempt from charges. One set of bags and associated items costs hundreds of pounds a month. I was surprised when the first order arrived as there was a lot !!! Billy holds about 500ml of liquid, one learning curve so far, dont drink lots of pints, you are emptying Billy every 10 minutes as you generally empty when half full otherwise the weight of the bag is uncomfortable!

Can I ask you all to continue to share and read the link to this page so people can read my journey as I continue to progress and get back to running in the future !!

Update 16-07-25

So most of us in this team are established regular runners, Jason is my twin brother and got me into running in 2009, we did our first Flora London Marathon together, I carried on running Jason did it part time and occasionally going out, yesterday he started his training for CM25, its going to be tough for him he has not ran a Marathon for over 10 years and has NEVER experienced the hills on the CM. Please wish Jason luck on his epic challenge of training and the final target of the CM 25 in November.....

Update 15-07-2025

That was a tough couple of weeks, operation all complete and recovery is slow with energy levels very low, have only managed a maximum of 3000 steps with most days 2000 about all I can manage. I am getting use to live with a Bag (Stoma) sleeping with a Bag is tough as you can't toss and turn, I can lay on one side only and on my back.

Appetite is very low but trying to eat in order to feed to body to repair itself, which could take around 6 months.

I had some great ideas during my last leader run on the 1st July, I have come up with some cocktails that will feature during a Fight Bladder Cancer fundraising night date to be confirmed, but a sneaky peak of some of the cocktails available from "The Run Inn" slogan where you Run Inn and stagger out !! The fundraising night will be a Karaoke night and cocktails and BBQ !!

Some of Cocktail names

The Ultra cocktail, The 5k cocktail, The 10k cocktail, The Stinky trainer, The Betty Swollocks. there are more and recipes are being finalised AND tested !!

Update - 02-07-25

So with just one day to go until the RC (Bladder removal) I am very nervous and yesterday attached a fake stoma and bag to get used to having one. It wasn't too bad actually although the bag was empty ! I was worried about how sticky they were but it felt good and strong.

Last night was my last Harrier run for a while, not sure how long but at least 3 months, could be longer. Lets see how I recover.

Thank you for everyone that ran and joined us for drinks and all the good luck messages I received from those that could not run. Being a Harrier is like having a large extended family. Please look after Kate while I am in Hospital !! See you on the other side of the OPP.

Update 30-06-25

Hi, so I had a week off last week and went to Guernsey to visit family, had a great time and it was nice to switch off for a bit and stop thinking about the Operation on Thurs 3rd July.

Then on Friday Jason Visited and we built a recuperation area " The Run Inn " Its a bar basically built in my garden, see attached pictures !!

STOMA nurse appt today lots of questions that need answers.

All of the T shirts and Vests have arrived and I will be dishing these out on my last run on Tuesday.

Please consider donating and also visiting me once I get out of hospital (That date to be confirmed) it would be great to have some visitors while I am in hospital and once I am out !!

UPDATE 18-06-25.

So the team has increased to 12 runners taking part in the Cornish Marathon 2025. Anyone can join the team to raise funds and awareness for Fight Bladder Cancer...

UPDATE - MONDAY 16-06-25.

The Team has grown to 11 runners.

Jason Vaughnley - Oli - Clive - Sarah Mc - Chloe - Victoria - John F - Joel - Victoria B - Paul - Josh T.

Update from me and what's happening.

- When you have major surgery they have to do a raft of tests.

Tests so far CPET - CPET is where you are wired up to a exercise bike and make you go for as long as possible with the machine gradually increasing in difficulty!

- Later this week Pre Opp checks 3hrs of tests.

Update 13-06-25

So today is Friday 13th and its good news news, we have 4 more runners join our team.

- Josh Frame - Josh is a regular runner with the Harriers and is excited about running the Cornish Marathon and is busy training hard.

- Joel Mitchell - Joel of Parkes and Pearn Estate Agents in Liskeard, Parkes and Pearn are a major sponsor of the Cornish Marathon and Joel is a regular runner also with us.

- Victoria Ball, Victoria ran her first London Marathon in April and loved it so much she signed up for the flat Cornish Marathon and has continued to train hard.

- Paul Arrowsmith has also joined the FBC team, Paul is a very experience runner who sadly had a relative die from Cancer not long ago.

That takes the team up to 7 runners..

Update 11-06/2025

So I have a update for you ALL round great guy, running club bestie Clive Shute has joined the Fight Bladder Cancer Team. Clive and Alex were instrumental in providing support to me after the diagnosis. I was round their house the next day where they shared their experiences with Cancer. The conversations with them both saved me from falling into the pits of despair. I am in regular contact with them both as I go through this journey.

Update 10-06-2025

So I can happily announce the LEGEND that is Oli Jones (probably should be SIR Oli Jones) is joining the Fight Bladder Cancer Team.

I have spoken to the fundraising coordinator and they will give me the T shirts / Vest for free !!

Update 09-06-2025

So I managed to sneak in a little race at the weekend, I ran at my brothers pace so had time to enjoy the surroundings and the amazing views across the Thames and Teddington Lock.

So Jason (my twin) has agreed to take on the challenging Cornish Marathon 2025, He will be running the Fight Bladder Cancer Charity. He is just starting his training - So GOOD LUCK Jason.

Just over 3 weeks to go until I get to meet Billy, if you wonder who Billy is then please read below !!! I have more runners who have also agreed to run for my Charity, watch this space !!!!!

Update 06-06-2025.

Hi, I have had 2 runners ask if they can join the team and raise funds and awareness for the Fight Bladder Cancer Charity, they are both running The Cornish Marathon this year !! Names and pictures of the runners will follow very soon...

05-06-2025

Hi, As some of you already know I was diagnosed with Bladder Cancer on April Fools Day 2025, and it was NO joke, I have numerous tumours.

A TURBT was performed 3 weeks later and the tumours were removed. A set back with this procedure put me back in Hospital for 5 days.

I am (as you will know) a huge fan of running, I started running about 16 years ago with my first ever run being the Flora London Marathon, I was a big heavy chap then weighing over 16 stone, so it took a while to get round, 5hr and 59 minutes to be precise. I ran with my even heavier twin Jason and we had a real blast and loved it, so much so, we went back the follwing year and did it again. This time we knocked a huge chunk of ONE Minute off of our previous years time.

I never stopped running after the above races and have now completed 17 marathons getting my time down to 4hrs and 3mins

Fast Forward to 1st April 25, I had just finished training for Guernsey Marathon 2025, I was at my peak of fitness, Guernsey Marathon was only 6 days away and I went in for for a Urology appointment as I had numerous bouts of Blood in my Wee, due to having medical insurance I went to a Dr who straightaway got me onto the 2 week cancer screening pathway I had a Urology appointment and the doctor took a look inside my bladder with a camera, we then sat down and he said Craig you have numerous cancers in your bladder.

Getting this diagnosis was devastating I felt so empty, some great support from a cancer survivor and her husband helped we get through to where I am now. They both helped me and my wife Kate cope with stress and anxiety involved in dealing with Cancer.

Its June 5th Now, I will have MY cancerous bladder for just another 4 weeks, then it come out along with Prostate, Lympth nodes and seminal sacks.

Then BILLY will enter my life, BILLY is the name of my STOMA (bag) that I will wee into. I will post some pictures of BILLY when I get to meet him on the 3rd July 2025.

I am running at the moment and will do right until the last day before my operation, I need to get as fit as possible before my life changing surgery. If you have blood in wee, do not ignore it, your GP should automatically refer onto a 2 week cancer pathway....

There are lots of people to thank since my diagnosis, my running club mates, your know who you are I can't name you all. My family and friends, Clive and Alex Shute and ESPECIALLY MY WIFE OF 23 YEAR KATE !! We will have some tough months ahead. We will take every day as it comes and enjoy them all.

Fight Bladder Cancer was founded and is run by patients and carers and how now grown to become the most active advocacy group and charity for bladder cancer in the UK.

FBC provides information and support to everyone affected by bladder cancer, runs national and local awareness campaigns, supports medical research into better treatments and campaigns at the highest levels to turn the spotlight on this much-neglected cancer.

We can only do our work with the support of individuals across the country who make fundraise and donate to us.