A YOUNG Coventry father who is battling cancer has taken on a treadmill challenge – walking 60 miles through September.
Will Green, who is being treated for Hodgkins Lymphoma, is unable to leave his home due to his chemotherapy treatment.
The 30-year-old from Baginton is raising funds for Cancer Research UK by totting up the miles on a treadmill.
Cancer treatment has taken a huge toll on Will’s life – diagnosed with lymphoma just after his 29th birthday, the subsequent treatment means his three young children have to live with relatives to prevent him catching an infection.
Will, a director at estate agency Shortland Horne, said: “The treatment means I have to be really careful about how I do things. With our children going back to school, and the Covid risks, to give them a normal life again they have gone to live with their mum’s sister.
“My blood test came back recently and my white blood cells are near nothing now. So even with a common cold I could be in danger, and with our children in the house it meant they couldn’t cuddle me or come near me. They left on the 1st as they went back to school.”
Despite the upheaval in his life, Will aims to prove being is cancer patient is no barrier to reaching a fundraising target of £10,000.
“I started the run as I knew the disease will effect my heart and my lungs in the future. I am pleased I’ve managed to do it every day so far. Even the day after my first chemo, I was able to get back to the treadmill.
“It’s probably getting tougher now as with losing white blood cells I am getting more fatigued. I tend to walk in the mornings after I have managed to get ready and get breakfast.
“I have loads of support as a member of the Roundtable and people posting support via #walkwithwill. Roundtable groups around the world have been in touch and donated, the important thing for me is that aswell as being on chemo, the changes in treatment since 10 years ago means chances are much improved.
“It is really to raise awareness that with chemo, it is not as it looks on adverts – you do have good days as well as the bad.
“I had a really nice lady contact me saying her daughter had just been diagnosed aged 18. And its important to show that can we can still do stuff, sure I have to stay inside, but its all a bit of a learning curve.
“I want to prove we can have tests, have chemo and keep going. There was a point when I thought with my kids, I felt real stress at the point where I was told I have cancer. Until I had my PET scan, it was really scary.
“But once I knew I had stage two lymphoma, I just thought I have to get on with it now.”
Donations to Will’s fundraiser can be made via justgiving.com/fundraising/will-green91
