Back in July I had a wee that was all kinds of wrong so ended up in A&E. If I hadn't gone straight away things would be very different today, if your pee doesn't look right please don't wait, get it checked, pronto.

A week in hospital, then a week at home, then a stay with Prof Nicol and his team at The Royal Marsden Hospital having my left kidney removed, I had a stage 3 tumour in it which had spread into the veins.

The operation was a success - they got all the cancer! The problem I'm finding with cancer though is that there never seems to be a just good news story, as you talk about reoccurrence rates and the nasty cells turning up somewhere else.

Being told was as sh** as you would imagine, but the weeks after where you mind runs through scenarios that you just shouldn't be thinking is the worst part. How can I not see my kids grow up, how will I have left them, how are they going to cope, who is going to give them a hug when mummy is having a bad day, and then there is my wife Emma too....

This is when you experience the greatness of the NHS and of The Royal Marsden. They didn't make me wait, they made sure it was gone before it spread any further. I couldn't have been in better hands, the care was exceptional, they instilled real confidence, they gave me hope and positivity. The nurses, well they were so friendly, you couldn't tell they were doing their job, they were just there because they enjoy caring for their patients.

I sadly don't remember the name of Australian chap looking after me for the first two nights while intensive care, the first couple of days are a real haze from the drugs. While I had no strength he gave me strength and encouragement, he will be a hero of mine for as long as I'm about and I will always be grateful to him.

I met a fellow patient called Kevin while on BC ward, he is a bit of a pro, told me everything would be ok and added me to his WhatsApp group of Cancer Warriors from the ward. Lots of people join that group. A few sadly leave (but certainly aren't forgotten), the key theme is love & admiration, for the team of doctors and nurses in The Royal Marsden, the care and strength they gave us is now continued across the group.

That is why I am asking you to sponsor me. The Royal Marsden is an amazing place, it's the very best and therefore treats people from all over the country. We can help to keep up that level of care for the next group of warriors that go through their doors, men, women, children, family!

My journey doesn’t end there - I am now a patient at Mount Vernon, having regular preventative treatment. More amazing people making sure that I do get to keep having fun with my kids!

So I have signed up for this bike ride - along with one of my oldest friends Dave. (The support is much appreciated mate!) I am definitely not capable of cycling 100 miles yet, Cycling to The Black Boy Pub and back seems about the right sort of distance. So lots and lots of training and a few less pork pies are required!

However.... I seem to have developed a big old surgical hernia or two. So training is limited / off until after the operation (hoping it's soon). This does put the chances of me completing this on May 28th at risk but you all know that I will try my very hardest to be there on the day.

If I really can't be then I hope that you are still happy to donate to this amazing hospital and I will of course still complete it outside of the event date. 

Thanks very much for all of your support.

The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity raises money solely to support The Royal Marsden, a world-leading cancer centre. We ensure our nurses, doctors and research teams can provide the very best care and develop life-saving treatments, which are used across the UK and around the world. From funding state-of-the-art equipment and ground-breaking research, to creating the very best patient environments, we will never stop looking for ways to improve the lives of people affected by cancer.