First-time runners take on Rome after friend's cancer diagnosis

Thursday 19 January 2023

Nine first-time runners are among a group who will soon be heading to Rome as part of a marathon fundraising effort inspired by their friend's testicular cancer diagnosis.

The team of 12 is aiming to raise £10,000 to "give back" to Testicular Cancer UK, which has been offering support to Ben Gurney, who found out he had cancer almost exactly a year ago.

Ben described his diagnosis as "a serious of unfortunate events that led to one very lucky one."

He was supposed to be on a trip to Canada which was cancelled. Ben was feeling sorry for himself, and his mood was not improved by a rising sense of worry about his health. He had started to experience pain "downstairs" and had a sense that something was amiss.

"You get a gut feeling and you know something isn’t right," explained Ben.

Despite being reluctant to go to the doctor, he finally relented after some encouragement from his fiancée, Ruth.

Within the month, he had been scanned, diagnosed with testicular cancer, undergone surgery to have one of testicles removed, and begun a course of chemotherapy.

Pictured: Ben Gurney and his fiancée, Ruth, who he said "has been amazing through all of this and kept me going."

Ben said: “None of it would have happened if I had been on that trip… it was divine intervention as far as I’m concerned.”

The treatment took a heavy toll on Ben.

“The chemo completely shut my body down. I just couldn’t get up off the sofa. I had low energy, a low mood. I was just on the floor," he explained.

Emotionally, he found it difficult to cope too.

“It's ok when you’re in the medical cycle of support before and after your operation, but outside of that there’s no real protocol," he said. "They just chop it off and you’ve got to get on with it!”

Ben also found it challenging to adjust to the stigma associated with the disease.

He explained: “There’s quite a taboo around this topic for men, it can be quite embarrassing. When I got diagnosed, I felt like I was auditioning for a porn film - every room I went into, they were like, ‘Drop your trousers’!”

Even amongst friends, he struggled to speak openly about his testicular cancer as he felt that they could not relate to what he was going through.

Pictured: Within a month of being diagnosed, Ben had an orchidectomy and had begun a round of chemotherapy. 

Luckily, Ben was supported by Testicular Cancer UK. Originally known as ‘Check 'em Lads’, the charity was founded by former soldier and two-time testicular cancer survivor Phil Morris MBE.

Testicular Cancer UK aims to support men under the age of 35 suffering from the condition and provides information on how to check for testicular cancer, what the symptoms are, and how it is treated.

It also offers mental health support for any men struggling with their testicular cancer diagnosis, and continually tries to de-stigmatise the condition. 

“They are absolutely phenomenal," said Ben. "They really did save my life.” 

As a way of giving back to the charity, Ben and a group of his friends have all signed up to take part in the Rome Marathon to raise money.

Ben said: “Before I was very active, I was doing something every day. I need a line in the sand to work towards… I just want to give something back.” 

Pictured: For nine of the 12 friends, the upcoming Rome marathon will be their first. 

Jonny Amy, Ben’s best friend and one of the Rome runners, said: “The aim is to raise awareness and to raise a truck full of money for this charity!"

"For nine of them, it’ll be their first ever marathon so it’ll be a bloody good challenge," he added.

The Rome marathon takes place on the 19 March, so the group will be raising money until then. They have already amassed £2,700 of online donations after their JustGiving page went live just three days ago.

Ben admitted: “I’m quite a private person, but I’m privileged that I’m in a position where I can share my experience.

"I just want to start a conversation about it - I want to normalise talking about it, and about men’s mental health.” 

CLICK HERE to donate.

Pictured top: The group of friends who will be running the marathon in Rome.