My fundraising started for the Bone Cancer Charity Trust when I was introduced to Jamie and his family in London. A bit about Jamie, he was in the prime of his career, wanting to join the army and passing the first test he was just awaiting the medical. He had 8 fights and won 6, really hoping to improve and turn professional. Jamie then went training and was in agony with pains in his head and what felt like an ulcer on the roof of his mouth. When his mum Tracey took him to Guilford Accident and Emergency, they found a lump on the roof of his mouth. After doing a biopsy they discovered it was a cancerous tumour in his right sinus pushing down on the roof of his mouth. When they did further tests they told us it was Ewing’s sarcoma; a rare cancerous tumour that was 3 ½ centimetres wide and had wrapped its self-round the bones in Jamie’s face.

In order to remove the tumour he had to have strong chemotherapy to shrink it before they carried out surgery. Unfortunately he got infections after each course of chemo and has spent a lot of his time in the Guilford and Royal Marsden hospital. On the 22nd February Jamie had major surgery to remove the tumour. They had to pull the roof of his mouth away, take 8 teeth out, plus remove the bone attached to his right sinus. When he came around the next day after surgery he didn’t have any pain relief; much to the doctor’s amazement. Jamie then had to have a further operation to take away the bones in the back of his face; again with no pain relief.

Jamie has met a lot of boxers and ex-boxers through his career and treatment who have really taken to him. Tim Witherspoon, American heavyweight boxer, organised an 18th birthday party for Jamie, Kevin Mitchell (professional British boxer) and Michael Sprott (British heavyweight boxer) came along too. I myself ran the Royal Parks Half Marathon last year with Kevin and the UK’s number one boxing promotor Eddie Hearn. Boxing has become Jamie’s life and is what got him through this nightmare.

He really is a truly remarkable guy who has fought the biggest fight of his life and is an inspiration to everyone battling cancer. It is through Jamie’s connection to the boxing community that I initially met him and his family. To my surprise the Bone Cancer Charity Trust is a Leeds based charity and just a couple of miles away from my home. Therefore it was a no brainer to continue my support after initially being involved last year. These challenges I am taking on are huge; especially Ride 24 which is cycling 300 miles from Newcastle to London in 24 hours. This would be challenging for an experienced cyclist and therefore is main challenge in which I am basing this fundraiser on. A warm-up event I have registered for is Ride London a 100 mile modifies version of the London 2012 Olympic Road race. The weekend after Ride 24 I will be competing in the Rubicon middle distance triathlon which is a half Ironman. I will be ending with the Royal Parks Half Marathon in London