I'm running the 2026 London Marathon to mark five years since my cancer diagnosis.

YES, that is a cardboard nutsack!!

I’m running for a charity I’ve been working with for the past two years: The Robin Cancer Trust.

At some point in 2023 I came across Toby, the founder of RCT, wearing one of these bad boys in his LinkedIn profile pic. I immediately knew this was a charity I needed to get involved with!

Since then, I've supported RCT in all kinds ways:

* Helping to set up and run the 2024 Colchester Half Marathon

* Walking 16 miles around central London for the Walking Bollacks challenge, handing out stickers, starting conversations, and raising awareness with anyone who stopped to ask why a few dozen people in red shirts and cardboard bollocks were parading through the city

* I even stepped in front of the camera to share my story.

Because here’s the thing: Young people don’t expect to get cancer. I certainly didn’t. But testicular and ovarian cancers are among the most common types in people aged 15-35, and early diagnosis can make all the difference.

Back in 2021, I got on Facebook and just… starting talking about my testicles! I thought humour and a positive attitude could break the ice, and I'm so glad that I did. I connected and reconnected with people from every corner of my life. It was wonderful to have so much support, and also to have the opportunity to remind everyone (especially young adult men) that serious health issues can hit anyone at any time. It's important to listen to your body and go to the doctor if you feel that ANYTHING is off.

That’s why The Robin Cancer Trust’s mission means so much to me and why their bold, humorous approach to advocacy hits home. They tackle serious topics with honesty, creativity, and a sense of humour that reduces stigma and gets people talking.

So this marathon is for them and for everyone who’s faced cancer when they least expected it.

If you’ve got a few pounds or dollars to spare, please consider donating. You’ll be supporting a small but ballsy charity that’s doing life-saving work in the most unforgettable ways.

Thanks for reading and for your support!

- Patrick