In September, I will be joining a 40tude team to trek 100km through the Namib Desert, described as one of the most inhospitable environments on the planet. You might ask, why take on such a challenge?

As a dentist, I spend my days caring for people’s health and often spot early signs of problems in the mouth before they become something more serious. Over the years, I’ve also seen how easy it is for many of us myself included to ignore symptoms, put things off, or assume they’re “nothing to worry about.”

This is exactly what makes colon cancer so devastating. Its early signs can be subtle and easy to dismiss. Too often, by the time people seek help, the disease has already advanced, and opportunities for early treatment have been lost.

Colon (bowel) cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the UK, and the number one cancer killer of non-smokers. It is increasingly affecting younger people. Yet it is also one of the most treatable cancers if detected early:

90% survive if diagnosed at Stage 1

Only 10% survive if diagnosed at Stage 4

A simple test can make all the difference. The FIT (poo) test takes just minutes at home, or a colonoscopy every few years provides reassurance. 40tude’s mission is to encourage everyone to begin testing from their mid-40s, so more lives can be saved.

This September, my trek across Namibia’s remote Skeleton Coast is not just an adventure, it’s my way of raising awareness of this preventable tragedy, and supporting 40tude in making testing more accessible.

If you are able to make a donation, I would be deeply grateful. But even more important than fundraising is this message:

Please get yourself tested regularly, and encourage your loved ones to do the same.

Testing is simple. 40tude has partnered with Selph, a trusted provider of at-home tests. You can order a qFIT (high-sensitivity poo test) here:

Selph qFIT Test(https://www.selph.co.uk/tests/q-fit-bowel-cancer-test).

Together, we can reduce the number of families affected by colon cancer one test, one conversation, one life at a time.

For me, stepping out of my comfort zone and into the Namib Desert is a way of honouring this cause, because if even one person takes a test and a life is saved, every step will have been worth it.