The skydive’s the limit for patient following his “superb” cancer treatment
A testicular cancer patient at Southend Hospital has parachuted in with a cheque for almost £2,000 pounds as a show of thanks for the excellent care he received, the donation is all the more meaningful as November is men’s health awareness month.
Mike Farrow, aged 48, from Hockley received his cancer diagnosis in March 2021, soon after he was operated on and began his chemotherapy treatment.
He said: “The treatment I received throughout from the Oncology department was superb, I felt supported by every staff member throughout the good and the bad. I cannot thank everyone enough and my skydive challenge was my chance to show my gratitude.
“Following my chemotherapy treatment, I felt numb, that’s the only way I can describe it. I knew that I needed a challenge, something to focus on; the skydive was the best experience, I loved it and felt truly alive.”
Together with generous friends, family and work colleagues, Mike raised £1,860 to benefit Oncology services, where the money will be used to help future patients.
Kayley Donovan, Community Fundraising Manager for Mid and South Essex Hospitals Charity, said: "On behalf of Southend's Oncology department we are just so thrilled at Mike’s donation, it will help make a difference to the lives of patients in the department. It means such a lot to them knowing that it has come from a patient who has been under their care, and who’s life they have helped as well.”
According to Cancer Research UK, there are around 2,400 new testicular cancer cases in the UK every year, that's more than six every day (2016-2018).
Since the early 1990s, testicular cancer rates have increased by more than a quarter (27%) in males in the UK (2016-2018), although rates for testicular cancer are projected to rise by 12% in the UK between 2014 and 2035, to 10 cases per 100,000 males by 2035.