Hi everyone,

Thanks for taking the time to read this (hopefully somewhat organised) message!

For those who don’t know me, I’m Adam, and I’m coming up to my 5-year mark of being sober! To celebrate this milestone, I wanted to give something back, especially since I’ve spent so much time talking about my sobriety journey. Some of you may not know why I decided to go sober, so I thought I’d share my story.

I struggled with alcohol for most of my 30s—really, most of my life if I’m being honest. It was a combination of different factors, and by October 2019, things had spiraled out of control. I was at my lowest point, unable to stop drinking, and ignoring a number of other health issues.

Around that time, I noticed a change in size and a “dragging” feeling in my testicles. One day, I was late to work because I wasn’t feeling right. My friend and old manager, Neil, noticed something was off and urged me to see a doctor. On the 3rd of October, I had an appointment where the doctor found a lump on my right testicle and immediately referred me for a scan.

Two days later, I was at the Cancer Centre at City Hospital in Belfast, where they confirmed it was testicular cancer. The consultant was amazing, explaining everything clearly and outlining the next steps. During that very first appointment, I was even asked if I wanted to donate sperm or have a prosthetic testicle—such a surreal moment.

I’ll admit, when I got home, I hit the vodka hard. But by the end of that week, on the Friday, I found myself in the hospital, scared out of my mind and suffering from the DTs. I asked for help right then and there, and that was the turning point. That was 5 years ago, and I haven’t touched a drink since.

I couldn’t have made it through without the support of my friends, family, Jane , James, Josephine, Cormac , Neil , the NHS, and especially *Friends of the Cancer Centre* in Belfast, who have been amazing throughout my journey. One person in particular, Mel, a nurse at the Cancer Centre, was always there for me, delivering results and providing unwavering support when I needed it most.

So, as I reach this 5-year milestone, I want to give something back to *Friends of the Cancer Centre* to show my appreciation for all they’ve done. I’m kindly asking for donations to this incredible charity—just the price of a drink or a cup of coffee would mean the world. Your support would help make a real difference for others going through similar battles.

Please feel free to leave your name so I can thank you personally (and maybe send you a fun surprise!).

I’ve also included links below with more information about *Friends of the Cancer Centre* and the amazing work they do.

Thank you so much for your support!

https://www.friendsofthecancercentre.com