125 mile row for charity

Between Sunday 20th April-Wednesday 23rd April, I will be rowing 125 miles (201.168km) on an erg machine: the distance between the University of Warwick, where I study and row for the University team, and The Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton, Surrey, to fundraise for both causes.

Rowing an average of 50-60km per day and for over 20 collective hours throughout the 4 days, the challenge and required training is no doubt a testing feat. However, I feel incredibly privileged to even be able to attempt it and am excited to endeavour.

As the first hospital in the world to become solely dedicated to detecting and treating cancer and other types of tumours, The Royal Marsden is a pioneering force in the ongoing fight against these conditions. It is a beacon of support for those battling against one of the cruelest illnesses, a place where healthcare staff work tirelessly around the clock to bring support and comfort to those who need it most. 

It is also the hospital that I have been under the care of since February 2020, when a routine appointment uncovered other issues and I was unexpectedly diagnosed with a rare, inoperable spinal tumour. 

The news was a devastating shock for my family and the months that followed of countless appointments and emotional uncertainty about what lay ahead is an experience that no one should have to face. Nevertheless, I was extremely lucky: my exact diagnosis was not cancerous and as the years have continued to pass I have been able to carry on leading a ‘normal’ life, defying the initial expectations of doctors.

Good health is truly the greatest gift - a liberty we all rely on without much of a second thought. So, when this safety blanket can be unexpectedly swept out from underneath your feet, it is places like The Royal Marsden Hospital that provide light in a sudden, imposed darkness that you never imagined facing.

The last few years since the scare have truly felt like a second chance at life, time that I am incomprehensibly grateful for. Thankfully, my condition has remained stable, albeit some recent signs of nerve damage affecting my right shoulder and arm. However, this has only served as greater motivation to complete this challenge all the more while I still can. Raising some money for these amazing causes and hope for anyone searching for some would be profoundly fulfilling.

The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and University of Warwick Boat Club are two foundations that have shaped my life in numerous ways. I am forever indebted to these causes and the insurmountable opportunities they have given me. Any donations, however small, will be hugely appreciated: research into childhood cancer and other types of tumours are one of the lowest funded areas of medicine in the UK (<2% of donations) and yet affect thousands of lives every day.  

Thank you for your time!