The Havant MvF team are coming together to show our support for Tim! A brave bunch of the lads have volunteered to either shave their heads or lose their beards to help raise money for a great cause.

The event will take place on Saturday 29th November, at the Westleigh Pub in Havant from 3pm

Here a bit about Tim

My name is Tim Costall and I am 46 years old and have a wife, Liz and 3 children, Matthew , Bradley and Joshua. I had been a regular platelet donor when my iron levels dropped. I was sent for a colonoscopy to check what had caused it. I had been ignoring the specks of blood in my feaces and irregular bowel movements for a while. At the colonoscopy they discovered a large tumor nearly the size of my colon. I was sent for a scan and it was confirmed that it was cancer and had spread to my liver and there were specks in my lungs. I started Chemotherapy in November 2024 and had 4 cycles every 3 weeks. Each session would take about 5hrs. I had further scans and it had worked a little, but I developed a blood clot and started on blood thinners. so I then had to start another 4 cycles every 3 weeks. The worse part of this Chemo was the side effect, that I couldn't touch anything colder than room temperature, otherwise it would give me a painful shock. I also had neuropathy, which is pins and needles in my fingers and toes. I then was scheduled for surgery on June 16th to remove the infected section of my liver. They also removed my gallbladder at the same time. Amazing fact is the liver is the only part of the body that grows back. The surgery was successful within safe margins. 1 week later, 21st June on leaving hospital, I took a turn for the worst and my tumor in my bowel ruptured and I had emergency surgery on 22nd June to remove a section of my bowel. Both surgeries were the most painful thing I have ever experienced. Again the surgery was successful with safe margins and spent another 10 days in hospital. I now have a stoma, which is a fake arsehole that is on my stomach, that has a bag attached to it. Again after being released I took a turn for the worse and I had developed an infection and spent 3 weeks in hospital. I still have specks of cancer in the lung so started Chemotherapy again but a different type of drug. I am having 6 cycles every 2 weeks finishing on the 20th November. This time they also inserted a PICC line that is constantly in. This Chemotherapy lasts about 4hrs and then I am attached to a pump for the next 46 hrs that I bring home. The side effects have not been as bad this time, but I am losing my hair slowly and have had a small case of mouth ulcers, sore throat and lost my taste buds. I have also had a scan to assess some nerve damage that I have in my leg causing weakness. I am now about to have some more scans to assess how it looks. It seems I will have another 6 cycles every 2 weeks.

Even they have removed majority of cancer so far they wont confirm it hasnt spread a little more in each section.

All I ask for anybody reading about my journey is to get checked up early. I left it too long. Please don't be scared to ask me questions. I will be open and honest and even show my scars.

After a chat with Tim, he has decided to donate all money raised for the event to our teams chosen charity Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association.