Hello - and thank you for visiting my JustGiving page!

By the time you've made it here, you'll be aware of some of my experience with cancer - and this year I'm helping to raise money for Friends of Anchor, alongside 23 other incredible, inspirational men who will be taking to the catwalk for Brave 2024!

Friends of Anchor offers direct care, support and well-being services to those experiencing their own struggles with cancer across the North East of Scotland. Their personable approach to helping patients and staff navigate this horrible disease is uplifting, and from my own personal experience made such a difference.

On the 10th of January 2023, I was diagnosed with Stage 1 Testicular Cancer - exactly 60 days after getting married. I was living on cloud nine, having just made some of the happiest memories of my life, and almost felt 'untouchable' in some ways. It's hard to put in to words how frightening and shocking it was receive the news that I was being told. My journey to be diagnosed had started many months before, after discovering an unusual lump - and this resulted in many visits to the doctors; rounds of antibiotics, blood and urine tests. Each time, I'd expressed my concerns of testicular cancer (given where the lump was) however was told it was one thing or the other, and so when visiting the hospital, had really convinced myself that it was just going to be another 'regular check-up' and I'd be on my way. Oh how wrong I was! Suddenly, it felt like the rug had been pulled out from beneath my feet.

It's well publicised these days that the chances of developing some form of cancer is 1 in 2 - you just never think you're going to be that one! Life felt really dark for a while. Having always been a bright, upbeat character, suddenly everything felt really heavy. I found it really difficult to focus on anything, to give time to anything - as every ounce of me was just being consumed by this news. I was taken in for surgery to remove the tumour in a matter of weeks though, and underwent one round of aggressive chemotherapy as a precautionary measure. It was during this time, that I experienced first hand how incredible the support from those at Friends of Anchor is. All of the team members were always there, with a smile on their face, to help lift me up and navigate my journey. I've said it before, and I'll say it again - I feel like I 'got off lightly' with cancer, as there's so many others that are going through so much worse than I ever did. But one thing I've come to learn, is that it never leaves you. I'll forever worry about that statistic, and how devastating cancer can be to so many.

So please, if you're able, donate to raise money for Friends of Anchor. No matter how big or small, all donations are greatly appreciated and will make a huge difference to such an incredible charity.

Thank you.

Mark