I've just been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and I need your help in making sure fewer people are.

I'm an A&E nurse, trained at St.Barts in London, who has spent my life helping people in extreme surroundings and circumstances and I have now unexpectedly found myself in an extreme health situation myself. I want to use my personal experience to spread awareness and prevent others from getting the same devastating message as I have.

This is not the first time I have been diagnosed with cancer.

Back 2015 I was living in Australia and a local GP found a suspicious mole which was in a place on my back that I couldn’t see myself, and he biopsied it on the spot, it was diagnosed as Stage 1 melanoma and I was in surgery the next day. That GP saved my life.

I had check-ups for five years and was told it hadn't come back. I moved on with my life and decided to take what had been a passion of mine my whole life, sailing, to the next stage and I qualified as a RYA Yachtmaster and sailing instructor. I have spent much of my life since then outdoors, teaching sailing and providing healthcare in remote regions around the world.

This year, after the sailing adventure of my life down the English Channel with my partner Felicia, I was rushed to hospital in severe pain which turned out to be a kidney stone, but the investigation led to various scans through which it became evident that there was something far more serious going on.

I am 41 years old. I am otherwise fit and healthy and without any indication of being unwell. Even as a nurse, the news hit me like a sledgehammer.

The good thing is that whilst this is late stage cancer, there has been significant progress in treatment options and their effectiveness, even for late stage melanoma. And it is likely that we found it before it's too late, by the pure luck of a kidney stone and a thorough NHS team.

I have now started treatment, but I am unable to work, and more importantly I feel an urge to turn my experience into something positive, something constructive. Something that could save lives. In just the same way as being a nurse and helping people got me up in the morning.

Melanoma skin cancer is killing someone in the UK roughly every 4 hours. It's the 5th most common cancer in the country, and rising faster than any other. More than 17,000 people are diagnosed every year. One in five of us in the UK will get a skin cancer diagnosis in our lifetime. Caught at stage 1, survival is over 95%. Stage 4 is a different conversation. I want to help more people catch it at stage 1.

In New Zealand I once walked into a sporting event and found a free mole check booth. I mentioned I'd had melanoma. The nurse checked three moles, picked up her phone and said: "How are you tomorrow at 10am? I've booked you with a doctor." That's it. That's all it takes. They've been doing this at sporting events for years, going to the people who would never go to them. I've never seen it here in the UK. I want to change that.

I am a qualified nurse with expertise and qualifications in emergency healthcare, but I need two additional qualifications in order to make this happen. As I am currently unable to work, I am reaching for help to fund these qualifications so that I can start making a real difference as soon as possible.

What I'm raising £9,245 for:

PGDip Dermatology in Clinical Practice — University of South Wales (£5,520)

Dermoscopy Mentoring Programme — Diamond Skincare (£3,725)

With these qualifications I'll be ready to build an awareness by working with local sailing clubs, sporting events and outdoor communities across the UK. Once I have my qualifications I intend to set up a charity that focuses on raising awareness and working with partners to offer free mole checks and referrals. Check. Triage. Refer. The Australian & New Zealand model, here in the UK.

I have the clinical background. I have the sailing community to get started. I need your help to make it a reality. If you can make even a small donation to help me, thank you. If you can't, but you want to help, please share this. The person who needs to see this might be one share away.

I’m happy to share any medical evidence if you need reassurance that my story is authentic.