Following my stage 4 diagnosis in March 2017, I was initially treated with pioneering immunotherapy treatment (IPI/Nivo) but following progression in Dec 2017 I have been taking targeted treatment (debrafenib and trametinib) which is keeping my melanoma under control. Once melanoma has spread internally in the body there is currently no known cure. You can read my full story on my blog www.shomelanoma.com which I write to raise awareness of this awful disease plus charting living with melanoma.

I have generally been well enough with the exception of periods of side effects and the mental challenge of living with cancer to be able to live life to the full and channel my energies into fundraising to support on-going research programmes at the Royal Marsden. It's my way of giving something back whilst keeping fit and active doing challenges with family and friends that I love. The melanoma research team at the Royal Marsden are at the forefront of developing new pioneering life saving treatments that are helping people like me live for longer with their loved ones. Melanoma has been one of the success stories in recent years in developing new treatments and these are now being tested for other cancers. Whilst significant progress has been made more needs to be done as many patients are still losing their lives to this awful disease. 

This year's challenge is described as tough and exhilarating as we take on trekking 26 miles over the tough undulating terrain of the Giants Causeway on Saturday 17th July. Team Shomelanoma is made up of myself, David, Phil, Natasha, Tony, Sam, Adrian, Michelle and Emily. 

All of the funds raised from this challenge will go 100% directly to the melanoma research fund at the Royal Marsden and will fund further life saving research led by my Oncologist Professor James Larkin and his colleague Dr Samra Turajilic.