My name is Adam. I’m thirty and I love all things sport, health and wellbeing related. I’m also a cancer survivor. Back in November 2011, I was diagnosed with a form of aggressive bone cancer (osteosarcoma) in my left leg, shortly after moving away to study at university, in Leeds. Throughout 2012, I received intensive chemotherapy and, in April, I underwent limb salvage surgery to remove the tumour and save my leg. 

From a young age, I was very active. I loved sport and found that I was good at it too! That isn’t me being arrogant, it’s what I was known for, it’s ‘who I was’. Sport formed a huge part of my identify and, growing up, most of my time was spent in a sports hall, on a cricket field, or on a football pitch somewhere. After my treatment and operation, I thought that it was no longer possible for me to play sport. I found this incredibly difficult to process as it felt like the cancer had robbed me of so much more than a small part of my tibia! Who was I, if I wasn’t Adam the cricketer or footballer? This was tough for a while. However, over the past ten years, I have been on a journey to rediscover my involvement in sport. I have learnt how I can adapt and take part in a way that suits the post-operation me. I’ve found sitting volleyball, which I love and have enjoyed many rounds of golf too! I was determined to respark the feeling of joy that sport gave me and this personal passion has also influenced my career. I now work in disability sport and feel just as strongly about supporting other disabled people to be active as I do about keeping active myself. 

In April next year, I have signed up to do the London Marathon and will be fundraising for the Bone Cancer Research Trust (BCRT), which is a charity dedicated to saving lives and improving outcomes for people affected by primary bone cancer. Despite being small, they fund more research projects, exploring primary bone cancer, than any other organisation. Other large UK cancer research charities do not prioritise bone cancer patients, in 2019 just 0.028% of their research spend went to bone cancer – not even close to 1%!

Completing a marathon was something I would have loved to have done pre-cancer but, following my operation, I no longer thought that it would be possible. However, ten years on, I found myself reflecting on the process that I went through, in 2012, to relearn to walk . This gave me an idea… Perhaps the thing that helped me to learn to walk again could also support me through this challenge. So, next April, I will be completing the London Marathon on crutches. Two sticks of metal were pivotal in helping me to walk again and they will be essential this time too. I simply would not be able to complete a marathon distance without them. 

My motivation is three-fold:

First and foremost, I want to inspire other bone cancer patients, and those who have experienced life altering conditions and/or impairments, to believe that anything is possible! 

Secondly, by fundraising for BCRT, I hope to raise further awareness of primary bone cancer. All the money raised will be going towards BCRT’s Support Service, which offers support to current, and former, bone cancer patients and their families. I’ve chosen for this to happen as it’s something I passionately believe is essential in aiding recovery. 

Finally, I’ve realised that recently I’ve stopped living by the lessons that the last ten years have taught me. In a blog post that I published earlier this year, to mark the ten-year anniversary of my operation, I ended with ‘Be brave. Be happy. Be you.’ But, currently, I am struggling with my mental health. This time of year is filled with significant, cancer-related dates and memories and it is emotionally challenging, even after all this time. I want something to help me regain control of my mental health. Something to provide me with a sense of purpose and focus. Something that embodies the very message that I have always hoped to inspire in others. You are still you, post-cancer. You can be brave, be happy and be unashamedly yourself. I have always wanted to do a marathon. So, next year, that’s exactly what I’ll do! 

In 2023, it will have been ten years since I finished my treatment. This feels like a huge milestone to celebrate, so I’ve decided to ‘be brave’ and aim to raise £10,000! I will be regularly posting on social media about how my training and fundraising is going, so please feel free to get involved in the journey. I’ll certainly need the support and encouragement! But for now, all that’s left to say is #TenforTen, let’s go!

Facebook: Adam's #TenforTen

Instagram: @tenforten_adam

Twitter: _adamlever