Before cancer I was very focused on work and didn’t make much time for myself or my family. I was working on a big project, and I was starting to struggle with a sore throat.

I went to see the doctor who said it was tonsillitis and gave me antibiotics but it didn’t clear.

The doctor brought me back in and gave me a biopsy. I thought that everything would be fine and that I would go back to work, but a few days later they told me I had tonsil cancer. I treated it like another project to tackle and said ‘let’s get on with it, what are my options?’

The weekend I started treatment will always stick in my mind. I had three rounds of chemotherapy and 35 doses of radiotherapy which was incredibly difficult. I was so weak in those first few weeks that I had to crawl across the floor to get to the bathroom. My family were so upset by it all, and they didn’t know what to do.

I saw a poster for the Swansea Sing with Us choir in the hospital and my wife encouraged me to join. The choir was my introduction to Tenovus Cancer Care so I looked into ways I would be able to give back, and that’s why I did the Goodnight Walk.

I got lots of support for my first couple of runs and I really wanted to challenge myself so that people would continue to donate. I eventually ran two 10k’s and a half marathon, followed by two half marathons and the Carten100 cycle challenge.

I took on my biggest challenge by running the Virgin London Marathon for Tenovus Cancer Care, and there’s been a natural progression with running since. I do it to keep fit and to raise awareness of the charity and their work in the community. Through running, I’m able to show people that there’s life after cancer.

Getting to the hospital can be hard when you’re going through treatment, but by taking care into the community, Tenovus Cancer Care are making patients’ lives that little bit easier. The charity brings joy, opportunity, and friendship to people who are going through cancer and I’m very proud to support them.