157 Hours. 157 Miles. One Incredible Challenge. 💙

In April 2027, I'm taking on the London Marathon in a wheelchair, supported by five incredible people, to raise money for Bone Cancer Research Trust (BCRT).

But this isn't just about completing 26.2 miles. It's about a journey that started more than 30 years ago.

My Story

When I was just two years old, I was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer.

Following chemotherapy and pioneering surgery, my left femur was replaced with a metal bone, making me the youngest patient to undergo this procedure at the time.

That was just the beginning.

Over the years, I've undergone approximately 65 operations, spending an estimated 157 hours on the operating table.

Those operations include:

49 leg-lengthening procedures — approximately 49 hours.

12 operations following three infections — approximately 72 hours.

4 bone replacements — approximately 36 hours.

That's 157 hours of surgery, not including the countless hours of recovery, rehabilitation and everything else that comes with it.

Today, I still live with the physical consequences of bone cancer. I walk with a limp, have a dropped foot, have very limited movement in my left leg and often use a crutch to get around.

But I've never wanted cancer to define what I can achieve.

I've been fortunate enough to travel the world, make incredible memories and live a life that, at one point, might have seemed impossible.

And now, apparently, I've agreed to do a marathon!

How Did This Happen?!

It actually started with a conversation with someone from Bone Cancer Research Trust.

They asked whether I knew anyone who might be interested in running the London Marathon for the charity.

Naturally, I passed the message on to my brother, Greg, who's already completed a couple of marathons.

What I wasn't expecting was for him to come back with an idea he'd apparently been thinking about for a while.

What if we did the London Marathon together?

Me in a wheelchair, with a team of runners supporting me around the course.

It didn't take much convincing. I was in!

And before we knew it, we'd assembled our team.

Meet Team 157 🏃‍♂️

Joining me for this slightly ridiculous adventure are my brothers Greg and Mitch, good friends Joe, Nath and Nikki, whose gym - The Yard Gym, Otley - somehow seems to have become the recruitment centre for this whole operation!

Five support runners, one wheelchair and 26.2 miles around London.

My personal goal is to self-propel as much of the marathon as I possibly can, with the team there to push me when my arms inevitably decide they've had enough.

Having recently completed my first 3km wheelchair training session, I can already confirm this is going to be considerably harder than I imagined!

157 Hours. 157 Miles. 💙

Here's where this challenge becomes particularly special.

As mentioned earlier, I've spent approximately 157 hours undergoing surgery throughout my life.

On marathon day, each of my five support runners will be covering 26.2 miles.

6 runners (including myself) × 26.2 miles = 157.2 miles.

157 hours of surgery.

157 miles of running and wheeling.

It's a remarkable connection between everything I've been through and what we're now setting out to achieve together.

Those 157 hours represent some of the toughest moments of my life.

The 157 miles will represent friendship, family, determination and the opportunities I've been fortunate enough to have since surviving cancer.

And over the next six months, we'll be using those numbers to inspire our fundraising challenges and events.

Why Bone Cancer Research Trust?

Because without the treatment and care I received as a child, I might not be here today.

Bone cancer is rare, but its impact can be devastating, and the consequences don't necessarily end when treatment finishes.

Bone Cancer Research Trust works to improve outcomes for people affected by primary bone cancer through vital research, awareness and support.

I know firsthand just how much that matters.

If our challenge can help fund research, raise awareness and give hope to other families facing a bone cancer diagnosis, then every mile will be worth it.

How You Can Help

Over the coming months, we'll be training, fundraising and probably questioning whose idea this was in the first place!

Whether you can donate, share our page or simply cheer us on, we'd be incredibly grateful.

Every contribution, no matter how small, will help us support a cause that's very close to my heart.

65 operations. 157 hours in surgery. 157 miles of running and wheeling. One team. One cause.

Thank you so much for supporting us! 💙

If you'd like to follow our journey to the London Marathon, including the training, fundraising events and everything in between, you can follow along on my Instagram @thereislifeaftercancer.

Ryann, Greg, Mitch, Joe, Nath & Nikki 💙