Hi there,

*** update - one day to go and with strong winds forecast and safety in mind we've switched the challenge from the beach to the river with a new route between Tuckton Tea Gardens and Iford Bridge (Christchurch, Dorset). If you're local, please come down and support us we'll be around from 9am till at least 4pm.

*** Update - the boys have helped create this video of my story and what we are doing https://youtu.be/95GQ7ntZrIc

And so we look the part I've treated the boys to new training shirts for the challenge and next season with our charities logos to help raise awareness (see gallery/video)***

This year I turn 40 which is a particularly great milestone given that I underwent major surgery for mouth cancer 5 years ago and I also live with an incurable, rare autoimmune liver disease called Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC).

So, what better way to celebrate than to do something to signify the occasion and to give back to the charities and organisations that have helped me get to this point!

Now those that know me will vouch for the fact that football is a big part of my life; if I’m not playing, I’m supporting and more recently, having instilled the passion in my son, I've taken the role of coach and manager for his team (Christchurch Under 8s). Hearing news of Kieron Dyer's (Ex England, Newcastle & Ipswich footballer/coach) PSC diagnosis and requirement of an urgent liver transplant and the freaky similarities to my own personal circumstance I am seeking the support from the football community to raise awareness of the condition and to also raise money to help improve the future for others with PSC as well improve the treatment and care for people with mouth cancer; specifically those undergoing treatment at Poole hospital where I was supported by incredible teams in the Maxillofacial and ICU departments.

This June I will be challenging myself to complete 40km of kayaking/running pier to pier Bournemouth to Boscombe. My son's football team (Christchurch U8's) that I coach will join me for support and each player will accompany me in the form of a relay completing a 2.5km run and 2.5km kayak each. 

My U8's, what can I say... These boys love their football! It fills me with pride seeing how they have developed this season, both individually and as a group. Win or lose, they always give it their all. It means a lot to me to have the support of the players and parents as we attempt this challenge.

With your help we are aiming to raise £40,000. This money will be split between PSC and Dorset Hospital charities through two JustGiving pages. PSC will use the money to invest in research to finding a cure as well as awareness campaigns. University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust will enable Poole hospital to invest in leading edge technology to improve treatment of patients undergoing Maxillofacial surgery for mouth cancer.

Your donation through this page will go to PSC Support. If you would like to split your donation or donate to the other charity the link for my other just giving page supporting University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust is - 

Christian Smyth is fundraising for University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity (justgiving.com)


More about my story…

Years prior to my cancer diagnosis, when I was in my late 20s, I was diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC). In simplified terms, the disease attacks and scars the bile ducts which can cause them to narrow until bile backs up into your liver and starts to damage it. Thankfully my symptoms have been relatively mild so far, I take a daily helping of pills to manage symptoms and I am monitored annually through MRI's, ultrasounds and colonoscopys. 

This rare, chronic, liver disease can affect anyone at any age, including children. People with PSC face an increased risk of bile duct cancer, gallbladder cancer, liver cancer and in some cases, bowel cancer. Many live with symptoms that are debilitating yet invisible, such as fatigue, itch, nausea and pain. People with PSC are often unable to work full-time, miss out on family life or die early from the disease or its complications. PSC is devastating, complex and unpredictable. Despite impressive research efforts in the last 25 years PSC still does not have a cure and that needs to change.

In July 2017, at the age of 35, having noticed white patches on my gums and had a few biopsies, I was diagnosed with tongue cancer and underwent surgery performed by Atul Kusanale and his maxillofacial  team at Poole Hospital for a Radial Forearm Flap (essentially cutting out half my tongue and rebuilding it using my arm) followed by six weeks of Radiotherapy. Luckily the cancer was picked up early and whilst aggressive was able to be treated. The surgery was major, 10 hours in the operating theatre followed by complications and several visits back to surgery, this led to me being on a ventilator for the best part of a week and requiring further weeks in hospital to regain my strength and ability to communicate before I could go home. I lost over 2 stone in those weeks and it took a long time to be able to eat and drink well enough to get rid of my feeding tube. I also suffered severe delirium whilst I was in hospital, something that still haunts me to this day. All in all, it was a truly horrific time for me and my family but we were surrounded by an incredible team at Poole hospital who helped us get through and if it wasn’t for the amazing skills of the surgeons and specialists I may not be here today. I am also lucky to receive ongoing monitoring by Atul and the Maxillofacial facial team to ensure early detection of any potential cancer reoccurring.

As you can see, both charities are extremely significant and important to me and I really hope that this event will help raise awareness of both diseases and help improve the outcome for others.

Thank you for your support.

Christian x

#LetsBeatPSC #PSCsupport #PooleHospital #UHD #CYFC

A few interesting facts…

One of my critical care nurses’ sons plays for my U8’s!

I’ve seen two England internationals, eight years apart and Kieron Dyer played in both. The first was at the Old Wembley in 1999 vs Luxembourg, a thumping 6-0 win and coincidently Kieron Dyer’s England debut. The second was England vs Brazil the first ever game at the New Wembley on my 25th birthday, the game finished 1-1.

Described by my team mates over the years as 'made of glass' which looking at my medical record appears to be about right. Or 'he's only got a throw in' Part insult, part reference to my incredibly long throw that probably created close to a hundred goals over the years.