My name is Aaron Maddox and I am nearly sixteen years old, I live in West London and I am now a disability swimmer.
I was diagnosed on the 4th of March 2011 with Osteosarcoma of the right proximal humerus (bone cancer). This followed a nine month rigorous plan of chemotherapy and an operation that removed the cancerous bone from my right upper arm, which then was replaced by a prosthetic 15cm titanium rod.
I am now disabled due to the operation that removed the bone from my arm which has left me in the position of not being able to raise or elevate my arm.... But through this I have found a perk, I can now compete nationally and I hope internationally as A British disabled swimmer. Further more on the 31st of August 2013 I am undertaking The Great London Swim in Victoria Dock and raising money for three of the many charities that have been a great support to me; CLIC Sargent, The Ellen MacCarthur Cancer Trust and Teens Unit. Yes i am doing it with one arm!
Throughout my treatment I lost friends from the ward I also made new friends, all these friends have shaped me as a whole new person. To this day, and that you are reading this passage I believe I walked into that meeting room at Stanmore Orthopaedic hospital a boy being told i had a life threatening illness and then walking out of that same room ten months later a man.
I am coming up to two years in remission, the day i finished my chemotherapy at UCLH, I thought I am going to live life for every single person that has lost theirs to cancer. This event is one way of showing them I remember them all'
Thank you for supporting me!
