In May 2023, the life of our colleague, Jack Jones was turned upside down when he was diagnosed with early-stage Hodgkin Lymphoma.
Jack has astounded us all by not only beating cancer, but then training for and running the Manchester Marathon We asked Jack to tell us more about his incredible journey…
Can you tell us about your cancer diagnosis and beyond?
I was aged 21 when I was diagnosed with early-stage Hodgkin Lymphoma in May 2023. My treatment finished at the end of September, and I had some great support from Soilfix. I was grateful to receive a VIP Anfield tour experience voucher from the whole team.
What drove you to run a marathon?
I signed up to the Manchester Marathon in August 2023, along with my girlfriend’s sister. I wanted to do the marathon as it was a great way to raise money for the charity that supported me throughout my diagnosis and treatment. It was also a good way to regain my fitness.
How did you prepare yourself for such an amazing feat?
I began training in October 2023, as soon as my treatment finished. This started with walks around the block, and then progressed into light runs. By December I was able to complete longer runs a few times a week and to start a training programme.
Tell us more about the day of your run
I really enjoyed the event day of the Manchester Marathon. Being alongside thousands of other runners and the supportive crowds felt surreal. I felt a huge sense of achievement and I was proud of myself for putting the work in after a pretty awful summer to say the least. Alongside my personal achievement, it felt amazing raising over £3,000 for an extraordinary charity.
How did the Young Lives vs Cancer charity support you?
Young Lives vs Cancer helped me massively by providing support workers, hosting events, and providing grants to cover costs you shouldn’t have to worry about when having treatment, like parking costs, tea and coffee etc. I want to say a massive thank you to those who have donated. Your money is going towards a great cause!
Looking to the future, what is next for Jack?
I am looking forward to continuing my progression within Soilfix, with my accountancy apprenticeship. I will soon be advancing onto my Lvl 4 AAT qualification.
I’ll continue running, as I did enjoy most days of the training and it’s really improved my mental and physical health. I’ll put any running events on hold for at least a year though. I really do recommend anyone to get into running as you do feel numerous benefits once you stick at it and the event days are a great experience!
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You can donate on Jack’s Just Giving page by following this link: https://lnkd.in/gY4iVvD
