Last year, our world was turned upside down when our dear friend Josh was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer at just 39 years old. His cancer is rare and aggressive, with metastasis to his liver, lymph nodes and peritoneum. Nothing prepares you for news like that. One moment life is normal, and the next, everything changes.
Josh required emergency surgery due to a near-complete blockage of his bowel, which resulted in him having a stoma fitted. Despite everything he has endured, the cancer itself is sadly inoperable and, heartbreakingly, incurable.
Since May, Josh has faced months of palliative chemotherapy, bravely enduring treatment in the hope it would slow the disease and buy him more time. In October, his tumour markers began to rise rapidly again and by Christmas it became clear that the chemotherapy was no longer working. Now, Josh’s remaining hope rests with a new treatment combination of Lonsurf and Avastin, due to start on 21st January. We are holding onto hope with everything we have, praying that he responds well and that a clinical trial may yet become available for him that will give him more precious time.
Time means everything when you are a husband and a dad.
Josh and Lindsay have a beautiful 9 year old son together and Josh is also a devoted step dad to Lindsay’s 16 year old son. These boys are his entire world. Every single day, Josh continues to fight - for more time, more memories and more moments with the family he loves beyond words.
As you can imagine, this journey has taken an enormous emotional and financial toll. Josh is unable to work and Lindsay is doing everything she can to keep life as normal as possible for their family while navigating the unthinkable. Alongside supporting them financially, our hope is to help them live out some of their bucket list dreams - creating moments of joy, comfort and meaning in the midst of so much uncertainty.
That’s why we’ve chosen to take on challenges that truly push us to our limits.
In June, Amelia will be taking on a middle distance triathlon which is the equivalent of a Half Ironman - an immense physical and mental test across swimming, cycling, and running. On the same weekend, Alyce will be tackling a brutal 70 mile ultramarathon along Hadrian’s Wall, a route as unforgiving as it is historic.
We didn’t choose these challenges lightly. We chose them because they are hard. Because they require sacrifice, discipline and resilience which are qualities Josh has shown every single day since his diagnosis. Every early morning, every aching muscle, every mile will be for him and his family.
By donating, you’re not just supporting two endurance events. You’re helping a family breathe a little easier. You’re helping create moments of happiness to look forward to. You’re helping turn pain and effort into hope.
Anything you can give, big or small, will make a real difference. And if you’re unable to donate, sharing this page means more than you know.
Thank you for taking the time to read Josh’s story, for supporting our challenges and for standing with a family who mean the world to us. ❤️