Story
Christmas Eve 2025 changed everything.
After a few days in hospital, we heard the words no family ever wants: “I’m sorry - it’s cancer.”
Three weeks prior it was “just a bad back”, now it’s aggressive and rare prostate cancer (lesions on bones, and other organs) facing hormone therapy and chemotherapy. It’s amazing how quickly 'normal' disappears.
I’ve always known the statistic; 1 in 2 people will face cancer, I just didn’t expect our turn to arrive like this, and certainly not this fast… My Dad has spent decades giving his time, he was a dedicated Beaver Leader for years, and then came back to do the same for my own children. Quietly turning up, giving his evenings, his energy.
So now I’m turning up too.
From January 1st, I committed to 100 skips every single day for 365 days.
No rest days, no excuses, rain, cold, injuries - it doesn’t matter… Because cancer doesn’t just ‘take a break’.
I’m starting this with an issue in one leg (this has had surgery now and recovering, skipping on one leg is hard! Who knew!).
It’s not about fitness (but it certainly helps my chances, now knowing I’m now statistically at higher risk myself!).
It’s about fight, about control in a situation that offers very little… It’s doing something instead of just sitting with fear.
Alongside the daily skips, I’ll be cycling more and taking on a 5K obstacle course in July - climbing, crawling, dragging myself through if I have to… And knowing me, I’ll probably add more throughout the year - not because I enjoy suffering (those who know me may suggest otherwise haha) but because standing still feels worse… though I reserve the right to question that decision later this year when winter arrives again!
If you can donate to Cancer Research through this challenge, thank you - genuinely.
If you can’t (no judgement at all), please share it - Awareness matters.
This is for my Dad.
For my kids.
And for every family whose world tilts overnight.
Updates (and daily proof I’m not quitting) will be here: