I’m 58 years old, MALE and am fighting breast cancer.

I’m sat in my den looking out of the window at the weather. Now, two hours ago when I thought ‘must go for a training walk’ the sun was shining and skies blue. As if my simple thought had been a curse, it’s now tipping it down!

So why, in such weather and just having finished my last session of chemotherapy with merely 3 weeks until The MoonWalk London am I even thinking about it and what drives me?

I’m 58 years old, MALE and am fighting breast cancer. I think of it as ‘The Beast’ and from day one have been dammed it if it will beat me.

I did The MoonWalk Scotland some years ago, I did that walk as one of the hundreds of men who do The MoonWalk along with thousands of women and never for a moment thought that I could or would get breast cancer myself or that I would be able to personally experience the benefits money raised by Walk the Walk brings.

I signed up for The MoonWalk London 2016 as soon as I was diagnosed with breast cancer! Right from the outset, I was damned if ‘The Beast’ was going to get in the way of my life, beyond what the treatments make unavoidable. I was and am determined to get the message out to everyone that men also get breast cancer and need to check their breasts as regularly as women do.

So when I feel low or sorry for myself, I simply think that I may save a life and even if it’s just one, then I have beaten ‘The Beast’.

I’m not worried about not finishing the 13.1+2 miles and short of someone taking my legs away, I will cross the start in London in May

I will get as far as I possibly can. It will always be, that’s x miles done not y miles to go.

If I don’t make the 13.1+2 miles I will feel sad, just for a moment, that I won’t get a medal but I will be so proud of myself for trying.  As the recent Eddie the Eagle film reminded me, it’s not the winning that really matters but the taking part. For me completing The MoonWalk London will be my own personal Olympic challenge.

I will have 7 members of my family out with me so I will be driven on by their support and if beaten by my over eagerness it will take all 7 of them to get me to stop, but I will have tried my best and that’s all that matters.

If I get cold, I’ll be warmed by those around me, plus perhaps an extra layer of clothing!

If I feel low, I will remember those who are not so lucky as I am and can’t even walk because of fighting ‘The Beast’ I’ll be carrying them in my heart.

If I feel tired, I will remember that there is a bed at the end of it and tiredness will be gone, those who have lost loved ones to this illness need you and I to do this for them.

If my feet hurt, I’ll stop, powder them, apply the blister plasters and move on. Above all else read up on foot care and look after your feet. After The MoonWalk Scotland, having done just this I had but one small blister and that was after walking in torrential rain all night!

If I need extra support, I have two retired members of the SAS who will be lurking in the cheering crowds acting as my support team throughout the walk, needless to say, you’ll not know who they are!

If I need a hug, apart from my family I know there will be thousands of other walkers who I’m sure will oblige.

So look for the slightly rotund bald headed man. Make sure he is wearing a WTW ‘Team Talbot’ Shirt (safety first)… then give me a hug!

Dave

Our wonderful Media Partner Good Housekeeping spoke to Pamela and her partner Dave, in the May 2016 Issue they share how breast cancer hit them in a way they never expected. Read all about their experience and why they won’t let cancer stop them achieving their goals.

Come and join our 21st MoonWalk London on 12th May 2018 and help make a difference to those living with cancer now!