I am fundraising for Pancreatic Cancer UK.

I’m James, I’m a very lucky man.  I have a strong, intelligent and very beautiful wife, Catrin.  I have two brilliant, inventive, knowledgeable, sporty and hansom sons, Rhys and Bryn.  I have a large group of supportive and caring friends.  I live in a beautiful and welcoming town, which is also a UNESO world heritage site, Conwy.  Just think I have a 13th century castle at the end of my street.  I even have a great dog, Fred the Fox Red Labrador.  I am a scout leader, I was a teacher, a scientist, a marketer………… I had success and fun  in my work.  I keep fit and love the out doors and I am in GOG triathlon club so I can be bad at three sports rather than one.  I am very very lucky.  

I also have cancer!  I am currently undergoing intense chemotherapy for stage 4 pancreatic cancer.  I am severely ill with a disease that for most has a very life limiting prognosis.  I receive the Folferinx protocol of four different chemo agents once a fortnight.  I still manage to ride my bike and run at least once a cycle.

I don’t know how long I have to live.  I do know my life is likely to be shorter than I thought.  I was sensible enough to have paid good life and critical illness insurance  since I was in my twenties.  This means I have been able to retire.  I plan for the rest of my life to live my best life.  Life is not about careers, consumer goods and what car you drive: It is about family, friends, good food, good wine and fun.  Fun to me involves fitness and I plan to get as fit as I possibly can. 

In 2021 I will take a journey to fitness through my cancer treatment.  1,000,000 steps will be the first part of that.  Some days chemo means I do less than 100 steps, but watch this space, I love a challenge.  After the intense chemo is complete in the spring I want to:

• reduce my 5k running time
• get back to my PB (20 min 50 sec)
• get up to being able to run 20k (1/2 marathon)
• ride 100k in under 4 hours
• swim 400m in under 10 min
• comple an olympic distance triathalon
• compete a tough mudder

and that’s just n 2021.