Tom Mason’s Marathon of Hope I was 20 when I was diagnosed with Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma (tumour of the muscle) in December 2010. The only symptom I had was a lump in my groin. Because of this, I continued life as normal until I was diagnosed. When I was eventually diagnosed it came as a shock but if I am honest I had suspected it may have been serious. I was living in the Netherlands at the time so I had my fi rst surgery in Utrecht and then returned home for chemotherapy, radiotherapy and more surgery on the Teenage Cancer Trust Unit at Leeds St James University Hospital. I then had an operation followed by 27
weeks of chemotherapy and then four and a half weeks of radiotherapy. I found the treatment diffi cult. Although chemotherapy wasn’t as bad as I expected, radiotherapy was worse. It really immobilised me due to the skin burns. I also found the psychological effects of the treatment hard. I decided to run the 2012 London Marathon for a few reasons. Firstly it gave me something to aim towards after fi nishing treatment, so I could get my fi tness back to a good level. Secondly, it was always something I wanted to do! And thirdly, I wanted to give something back to Teenage Cancer Trust after being on one of their wards, so raising money for them seemed like a great idea. When I applied, I thought ‘well it’s quite
far’, but I didn’t let it daunt me as I used to be able to run half marathons. I was already a member of the Leeds University Cross Country team, so that helped my confi dence. My training involved running three to four times a week and slowly increasing the distances. When it came to marathon day, I felt extremely excited and maybe a little nervous. But once we got going it was phenomenal! It was a real carnival atmosphere and the crowds that line the
The Best You backs worthy causes that help our community
Teenage Cancer Trust Teenage Cancer Trust is the only UK charity dedicated to improving the quality of life and chances of survival of young people aged 13 to 24. Teenage Cancer Trust knows how
damaging it is to take a young person away from their everyday life, their friends and family and put them in a hospital ward with small children or older people. We also know that young people have a much better chance in their fi ght against cancer if they are treated by teenage cancer experts, in an environment designed just for them. That’s why we build specialist units
in NHS hospitals, bringing young people together where they can receive the very best specialist treatment and also support
street make the experience something truly spectacular. When I got to the end I was shattered, but I crossed the line in 4h and 30min with the biggest smile ever and the “I can’t believe I’ve done it!” message running through my head. Since the marathon, I have graduated from
university and completed the Mongol Rally with my Dad for Teenage Cancer Trust. Six weeks of driving 8,000 miles through Europe and Asia on good roads, bad roads and no roads for a whole lot of fun and a good cause. So what’s next? Well I suppose there’ll be time for another marathon soon... b
Johnson Beharry VC In 2005, Johnson Beharry was awarded the Victoria Cross, Britain's highest medal for gallantry in Iraq. This extraordinary man now dedicates his life to helping charities. To fi nd out more about the good work Johnson Beharry VC does, visit www.johnsonbeharryvc.com
each other. These units aren’t like ordinary cancer wards. They are designed to feel like places young people might naturally hang out. This sense of normality can make it easier for young people to endure the gruelling treatments, as well as making it easier to stay in contact with friends and life at home. Alongside all of this is a medical team of
teenage cancer specialists with expertise that’s second to none. This includes Teenage Cancer Trust Nurse Consultants who provide clinical care, develop research, deliver professional education and ensure that standards remain as high as possible.
The Best You is proud to support this excellent charity.