My Story
Sam and George are two cancer warriors who, side by side and with the help of friends and loved ones, hope to raise money for their chosen charity Cancer Research UK. In July 2023 they will take on a challenge to travel, Coast to Coast, the 131 miles from their hometown of Kilkeel, Co.Down to Killybegs, Co. Donegal on a 1961 Fordson Dexta. Both men have undergone treatment for cancer and supported each other throughout. Currently, with the help of their wives and families, they are planning the route and contacting local press, social and other media along the way to share the details of their journey and why it's so important to them personally. Sam and George are asking the local communities from Coast to Coast to support their efforts by making a donation, sharing the go fund me link and coming out along the route to cheer the men along the way. Details of the proposed route will be uploaded soon. George’s story: In early 2015, George was diagnosed with Lymphoplasmacytic Lymphoma. He started treatment which didn’t have the desired result and after a couple of treatments, was referred for blood exchange treatment. This greatly improved his condition and he then received several more courses of Chemotherapy. He finished that round of treatments in October 2015 and was in remission until 2019. He then needed more care and subsequently received more treatments lasting six months, which have kept him in good health to the present day. George has no doubt that the care he received and the improvement in his condition can be directly attributed to medical research and donations of blood platelets. Sam’s story: In April 2021, Sam was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Within three weeks of diagnosis, he had surgery and follow up investigations which confirmed metastatic spread to the abdomen. He had three months of Chemotherapy, which did not have the desired effect. Over the winter of 2021/2022, the situation was monitored by weekly blood testing and in May 2022, he was informed that the best way forward was surgical removal of the tumour. However, due to the tumours position, it would be a very delicate and difficult operation to remove it and as such, would only by undertaken in the Royal Marsden, London (home of the C4 series Super Surgeons). He had successful surgery there in July 2022, which also involved an unscheduled removal of a kidney. In November 2022, he had 25 sessions of Radiotherapy. In January 2023, it was confirmed that he had Carcinoma in Situ in the bladder and he started treatment for it within days of diagnosis. This treatment is ongoing. Like George, Sam has absolutely no doubt that the health he enjoys today following the above is the direct result of clinical research. That is why they have chosen Cancer Research to raise money for. Although their cancers are very different, the common factor is that all advancements in cancer treatment, whether Chemotherapy, surgery, medicines, scans etc, all are a result of ongoing research. Target: We plan to approach mainly businesses for sponsorship, the mindset being that to a trading business with a reasonable turnover, £100 is not a substantial sum. It is a tankful of diesel in a van, or a set of ink tanks for an office printer. However, if we can get one hundred businesses to donate £100, we have £10,000 and that is our target.
