In early December 2018, I was busy finishing off my Christmas shopping and looking forward to July 2019 when I would be marrying my partner in crime, Abi.
However, on the 15th of December 2018, I was dealt the shocking blow of being diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia and given days to live. Here started one of the biggest adventures of my life, albeit one that was unwanted. 
To cut a long story short, I had two rounds of Chemotherapy, followed by eight sessions of radiotherapy, in preparation for a bone marrow transplant, which was eventually carried out in May 2019.
The bone marrow transplant was always going to cause side effects, known as Graft Vs Host Disease (GVHd). In my particular case, I got GVHd in my gut which provided complications in eating & drinking.  As a result, my weight rapidly decreased. The medics managed to get this under control and I was able to spend some time at home; however the GVHd returned and I was readmitted to The Marsden in November 2019.
In early December, additional complications in my health developed, resulting in me experiencing Respiratory Failure, as well as a number of infections, which all resulted in me being moved to Intensive Care for two weeks. In these two weeks, my body literally wasted away - my muscles literally disappeared in front of my now Wife’s eyes.
When I came out of Intensive Care, it soon became apparent that I had lost all mobility and, from the beginning of 2020, I have been working on regaining my mobility.
It’s said to be important to set goals; and this is where things get really interesting... I have the standard goals of being able to walk again, climb the stairs again and drive a car again. But I have one goal that is much bigger than the others, and it has a couple of aspects to it.
The goal in mind is to do the RideLondon 100 in 2021 and raise vital funds for The Royal Marsden in the process.
Naturally, this will require a significant amount of training - for a healthy person, let alone someone who is attempting to regain their mobility!
My plan is to purchase a high quality road bike and, as soon as my mobility allows, to begin training with a vengeance!
However, given that my illness and subsequent recovery has taken so long, I have been out of work for some time and funds are limited.
I would be grateful if you would consider supporting my efforts by funding the purchase of a road bike, to aid my training and to use in the RideLondon100 itself.
The road bike I intend to purchase is the Specialized Roubaix Sport 2021. This bike should be ideal for the London/Surrey roads & enable me to train to the best of my ability as well, ensuring I stand the best chance of my mobility returning to me - 100%.
Perhaps you are not sure about funding the bike aspect of this fundraiser. If this is the case, please consider donating to TheRoyal Marsden Cancer Charity, of whom have been at the centre of my survival throughout this ordeal, and have enabled me to get married and give me the best possible chance of living out my days for many many years to come, with my beautiful wife.
To donate directly to The Marsden, click here - https://www.royalmarsden.org/donate
Below, you will find a small selection of photos from before I was ill, to during, to more recently being back home with my wife. Oh, and the bike I would like to purchase for my training and subsequent conquering of the RideLondon100 2021.
Thank You