Jev's story
Jev's story
Why I am running the Brighton Marathon
Well.. I was due to run the Great South Run (GSR) on the 20th October 2024 but due to the weather in Portsmouth on the weekend of the GSR it was cancelled. I started training for the GSR in the summer of 2024, which included the Sittingbourne 10 mile run in October as part of my training. When I got the news that the GSR 2024 was being cancelled I was gutted... I'd trained hard to get myself into a physical condition to run the GSR and was genuinely looking forward to the challenge.
For me, running the GSR 2024 was about the journey from coming out of hospital on the 20th October 2023 following surgery to remove my tumour. Running the GSR on the 20th October 2024, a year later, would close a chapter in my life and show that I was now stronger than before.
After taking in the news that the GSR had been cancelled I felt my journey wasn't complete. Yes, I had run the Sittingbourne 10 mile run, but it wasn't the GSR. I'd raised over £1000 for SGC and felt as though I needed to deliver on my promise. I didn't feel that just running the GSR in 2025 was enough, I've already run 10 miles and needed something more to focus on.
I thought about a half marathon, but that was only 3 more miles than I had already run and didn't feel much of a challenge. So, in at the deep end.. This is why I'm running the Brighton Marathon.
Below is my story..
I’d never heard of Salivary Gland Cancer, but I learnt quickly on 27th September 2023. It’s a rare cancer in itself but the type I had affects around 6 people a year in the UK. It started as a small painless lump behind my ear which Sarah nagged me to get checked, which then started to grow quickly. After a few visits to the GP I had an MRI & biopsy and unfortunately the results were not what we wanted and I was diagnosed with Salivary Gland Cancer.
My consultant, Adam (Legend! and yes we’re on first name terms!) talked me & Sarah through the options and a date for surgery was quickly arranged. My surgery was on the 16th October, where I was on the operating table for over 8 hours… I obviously had no clue but family and friends were going through it as surgery was initially planned for 4/6 hours.
Anyway...the operation was a success and the tumour (Larger than first thought) was removed along with my neck lymph nodes and trandicular gland for good measure. I was keen to leave hospital that week because it was Mia’s birthday on the 23rd and fortunately made it back in time (I did manage to dodge the 25 nine year olds having a party in my kitchen though - a plus!).
Once home it was the long road to recovery… letting the scars heal, build my strength back and grow my beard again, much to Max’s delight! During my recovery I received the fantastic news that all the cancer had been removed and it hadn’t spread to my other glands, meaning I didn’t need radiotherapy, something we thought I would do.
I couldn’t have done this without my amazing family & friends. There’s too many to list, but I must mention my wife Sarah who was with me every step of the way. Hannah, Max & Mia who were brilliant and brave and looked after me during recovery. My parents who always displayed a calmness but must have been worried sick.
I returned to work full time in January and started to get on with life.
I’m running the Brighton Marathon to obviously raise some money for a charity very close to my heart, but also to raise awareness. SGC is a very rare cancer that could have taken my life and has, and an unfortunately will, take the lives of others. By running the Brighton Marathon I really want to raise awareness and hopefully along the way save someone else’s life.
So please, give what you can but most importantly tell people about it.