Story
Every day in the UK, seven young people aged 13-24 hear the words “you have cancer”.
My Story:
I am running the London Marathon on 26th April 2026 in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust, a charity close to my heart which has helped me tremendously in the past. Teenage Cancer Trust is the only UK charity providing specialised nursing care and support for young people with cancer and supporting people diagnosed with cancer aged 13-24.
My personal story with cancer started in December 2014 when I was 19 years old. I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma in my face after having a mole removed and tested. After successful surgery in January 2015 to remove the melanoma in my face, this was followed up with 5 years of check-up appointments.
On my final check-up in October 2020 when I was 25 years old, it was discovered that over time I had developed a lump in my neck. After a biopsy and further tests, I found out that my cancer had come back more aggressively than before and would require further surgery as well as needing follow-up treatment post-surgery.
On the 21st December 2020 was when I had my surgery, which resulted in a 6 and a half hour surgery to remove the cancerous tissue as well as most of the lymph nodes in the right side of my face and neck. This was followed by a year-long course of immunotherapy, once a month to destroy the remaining cancer cells.
When I was told that I had cancer again, I was inconsolable. It was something that I had been really scared of hearing again. I felt even worse when I had to tell my Mum, Dad and brother and see their reactions and to try and stay positive and strong for them. This also happened during COVID-19 lockdown which meant I could not see any of my friends or rely on support from anyone else.
This is where Teenage Cancer Trust comes in - after starting my immunotherapy and having one session in the adult oncology ward, I was invited by Castle Hill Teenage Youth Support Coordinator, Charlene, and the Nurses, Vic and Claire to continue my treatment with them. Even though I was ‘too old’ to be at the Teenage Cancer Trust unit, they wanted me there to make my treatment as comfortable and positive as possible.
The year spent having treatment there turned into a positive experience, where I was made to not feel like I was facing cancer alone and all of my fears and thoughts were listened to. I was supported every step of the way and they put mine and my parents’ worries at ease with their compassion, care and understanding. The team there genuinely cared about my treatment and my personal life, always making an effort with me and trying to make me feel better about the present and future. After a year, my treatment finished in January 2022 where I was finally given the ‘all-clear’.
The compassion, understanding and care shown to myself at one of the lowest times of my life is something which I will never forget and will always appreciate. I have thought for years about how I could possibly pay back the charity and people who supported me through the most challenging time of my life. By raising money for Teenage Cancer Trust through running the London Marathon, I hope that my efforts will be worthwhile in helping someone who may be in similar shoes to me and it can sustain the amazing treatment and support which it gives to young people throughout the UK.
For more information on the amazing work that Teenage Cancer Trust do - please click the following link:
https://www.teenagecancertrust.org/about-us
And if you want to follow my running journey, please see my Strava: