Cavendish Cancer Care is an independent charity dedicated to improving the quality of life for those living with cancer and their loved ones.

In September 2019, my wife Jodie was diagnosed with an advanced bowel cancer. In spite of surgery and chemotherapy, the cancer was found to have spread to her brain in the May of 2020 when we were all locked down and working and schooling from home.

Jodie faced her cancer diagnosis head on and took all the treatment available to her - surgery, chemotherapy, a craniotomy, stereotactic radio surgery, radiotherapy and more chemotherapy….. we sadly lost her in September 2021.

Throughout her illness and in bereavement since her death, the Cavendish team have been a constant source of support to our two sons (Harry & Elijah) and I, offering various forms of therapy and a regular place for us to “check in”.

They offer free-of-charge packages of therapy and support, tailored to each individual's specific needs. But Cavendish only receive enough statutory funding to keep their doors open for about two weeks each year, meaning they rely on the generosity of the public to keep running. Put simply - they need your help.

Every £28 raised funds an hour of therapy for one of our clients affected by cancer.

Alongside the Cavendish Centre, another source of support to me across the past 2 and a bit years has been personal trainer, Jake Dallamore, who I began working with in June 2022. Jake has taught me, encouraged me, and pushed me to help get me into the best shape of my life! He's also been a great listener and friend to me as I've walked around the gym between sets.

Before I started working with him, I would never have imagined considering doing an hour long session in the Gym, let alone a rigorous 24 hour gym challenge of this magnitude! I am grateful that Jake has agreed to take on this challenge with me and he has designed an itinerary around the daily programme of classes and planned sessions with his own PT clients at Hillsborough Leisure Centre for a 24 hour period from 6:30AM on Tuesday 27th August through to 6:30AM on Wednesday 28th August. This will be a varied and gruelling challenge including rig classes, bootcamp, upper and lower body strength training, and anything else we can fit in. A full schedule will be published in the week prior to the event.

We would like everyone who donates prior to the event to suggest a song to add to our 24 hour playlist that will provide the soundtrack to the event, so please suggest a song alongside your donation.

It goes without saying that Jake and I would love as many of you to come down to the gym at Hillsborough Leisure Centre and join in or just watch and laugh as we puff and pant our way through the sessions.

Thanks in advance to everyone who donates. We will be sharing updates in the next couple of weeks as the event gets closer with a full list of what the 24 hours will involve.