Becalelis's Giving Page

My Story

I’m combining a 100 push-ups a day challenge with R&D for an alter-ego character that’s part of my #existential sitcom — a creative recovery project following my own mental breakdown, caused by a series of life events. One of those was surgery in 2022 for a rare tumour of the endocrine system: an aggressive cancerous pheochromocytoma on my adrenal gland. Before it was found, the tumour caused massive adrenal surges that explained a series of heart attacks towards the end of 2021 — events that were, at the time, a worrying mystery. The tumour was removed, along with one adrenal gland, by an excellent team at Addenbrooke’s — thank you. So far, I’m lucky. It hasn’t spread. I now have annual blood tests and, at the moment, so far so good. My heart and body have healed. I have less energy (though I probably had too much before). The mind is healing too, as is the impact on my family. Cancer has also taken people I love — and probably people you love too. Even when death is avoided, cancer leaves a long trail: physical, mental, existential. It takes parts of your body you will miss. Even when it saves your life, there is still a cost. Research matters not only for survival, but for what comes after — and for understanding why these things happen at all. Bonus: If you donate, suggest where I should do my next public set of 20 push-ups. I need 31 locations. Awkward and symbolic encouraged. This may or may not be an existential crisis.

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