Update*

So it’s 3 days till I set off, unbelievably I have hit my target again, so I have decided to be brave and go for the £3k!

I can’t thank everyone enough for the support, comments and sponsorship!!

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Following a routine eye test and a number of hospital visits in September 2021, in November 2021 I was given the news that I have Ocular Melanoma, a rare form of cancer in my right eye.

Since my diagnosis I have been under the expert care of the Ocular Oncology team at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital. I underwent plaque radiotherapy to treat the tumour, and thankfully just over 3 years on, although I still have the tumour it is currently not showing signs of growth.

Thankfully Ocular Melanoma is rare, affecting around only 5 people in every one million (I have always said I’m special 😂) but around half of the people diagnosed with OM will go on to develop tumours in other organs, sadly for those who’s tumours spread there is currently no cure. From personal experience that’s a hard fact to live with, and takes a huge toll on your mental health.

Since recovering from treatment I have been able to channel my energy in to my weight loss and fitness journey, and I am proud of my achievements as I approach the point of a 20 stone weight loss, the support and encouragement I have received from family, friends and experts has been amazing, and means that I am in better shape physically and mentally now than I have ever been in my life, despite my OM..

So for 3 reasons I am undertaking a personal challenge. The first reason is to raise awareness of Ocular Melanoma, as a rare disease I want to do everything I can to raise it’s profile. Secondly to raise money for the Royal Liverpool Hospitals Eye Tumour Research fund (reg charity no 1047988-83) and thirdly to celebrate how far I have come in my four year weight loss and fitness journey.

So what am I doing???

Well it’s quite simple, in August 2024 I am leaving the car at home in Warwickshire and walking to my Oncology appointment in Liverpool.

The total distance I will be covering is 120 miles, and I will be completing this in four 30 mile walks on consecutive days between the 19th and 22nd of August, with the final leg being from the overnight stop to my appointment on August the 23rd.

The Royal Liverpool Hospital use a central just giving page, but the hospital who have authorised my fund raiser have agreed that all money that I raise through this page and sponsorship will be ring fenced and used solely for the Eye Tumour Research Fund.

Over the coming months I will be doing all that I can to share my fundraiser and raise awareness of Ocular Melanoma, and share information about the disease and my diagnosis. I also plan to organise some fundraising events.

Fundraising for the Eye Cancer research fund is so important to me, as it is to all OM sufferers, and why I want to do all I can to raise awareness and money for research

Thank you for taking the time to read my story, and I urge you to please give generously, and to share my page and help raise awareness of OM.

Thank you, James 😊

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.