Hills are alive and my own cancer journey

Over twenty years ago my wife had Breast cancer so when I saw the 2022 ALCS ‘Hills are Alive” sponsored walk advertised I thought that I would sign up, learn a little more about the charity and raise some money at the same time. It was a fun event, I met some interesting people with interesting stories and I enjoyed the whole experience.

2023 was soon upon us so I signed up for the second time and tried a bit harder to raise money for a very active and needed charity.

Then in early 2024 the almost inevitable happened, I was diagnosed with Advanced Prostate Cancer. The news was devastating and I was more than a little scared, but I knew who would help me. So I went along to the next ALCS drop in day, had a very reassuring and comforting chat, between the tears, with Mary and sorted my head out.

Amongst many areas of support I took up the offer of a number of sessions with a therapist who helped me ‘get it out there’ and to deal with the emotional side of the diagnosis. ALCS also were able to provide us with nutritional advice to use during my treatment. Both of these areas of professional support have helped enormously.

 Now that my chemotherapy is over and my immune system has recovered I’m able to join in the men’s Pie and a Pint evenings and also the men’s Brunch where we have a very engaging doctor on hand to advise and answer our questions. Someone mentioned forming a choir, that will be fun.

During my chemotherapy I began to wonder if I would be strong enough to attempt my third “Hills are Alive” walk as it is quite a strenuous hike across the Dorset coastal hills and not to be undertaken lightly. I set 14th September as a personal goal, I started training towards the end of chemotherapy and I asked some good friends to accompany and support me.

After some doubts and a few recces ‘WE MADE IT”

The sense of exhilaration mixed with exhaustion was very special, Knowing that we have raised some money to benefit others facing a difficult time was a bonus.

Thanks to ALCS for keeping me going.