‘I hate running and I hate cancer – what better way to fundraise to defeat this disease’

Image: Alex with his Royal Parks medal. Credit: Alex Naim

Last summer I was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Thankfully it was caught early and I feel lucky, I know that some people go through things that are so much worse.

It started when I found a lump under my skin, and just two and a half weeks later I had my first surgery. The initial results came back unclear so I had to wait two weeks for the pathology before confirming that it was cancer – and another two weeks to go back into surgery again.

Then I was told it was 'non-seminoma', which is the more aggressive type of testicular cancer, so doctors said I had to have chemo because they also found it in the lymph vessels.

My treatment only lasted a month thankfully, but it was a very hard period. I knew it was going to be fine overall because it was caught early but it was still a really difficult thing to go through.

I’m someone who hates running – I really hate it and that didn’t change while I was training for the Royal Half.

I work out a lot but I don’t run, I have never enjoyed it. My partner ran a half marathon in March and then she told me there was an opportunity to run the Royal Parks Half Marathon to raise money for The Institute of Cancer Research.

It was something that I hated – running – but I also hate cancer as well. What better way to raise money than doing something difficult. I know a lot of people don’t have the ability to walk or run especially after being sick so it just felt right.

I wanted to celebrate my recovery and first year in remission, and to raise money to help eradicate this nasty disease.

I’ve been really surprised by the response I’ve had – so far I’ve raised more than £7,150, with more to come from my employer. Family and friends have been so supportive, and also the wider community on Instagram. There are a lot of people who care, and it’s amazing to see.

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