From the start, it was life-threatening.
A biopsy that nearly killed him due to the nature of his tumour.
Weeks of radiotherapy at The Royal Marsden in London, his head bolted to the table in a custom-made mask.
The kind of treatment that leaves scars far deeper than the physical.
Ben has suffered with his mental health for many years so to say, as a family, we were concerned about how he would cope with the severity of his cancer and the life-changing impact to his face, would be an understatement.
Every day was filled with anxiety – a LOT of anxiety – around the test of his resilience, his wellbeing, his tolerance of the trauma he had to go through.
Through all this Ben credits Macmillan Cancer Support with saving his life. From fast tracking pain relief, providing psychological support and acting as a middle-man between Ben and the Marsden. Macmillan were there every step of the way for Ben.
Which is why he’s raising awareness and funds for Macmillan through this extraordinary challenge he’s set himself – to ensure more people get the support they need when they need it most.
He intended to run from LA to New York but just before he was due to fly out, he collapsed during training.
A medical emergency that hospitalised him.
After everything his body has endured, doctors told him not to travel.
Undeterred he changed the route – not the mission.
Ben is now running those same 2,853 miles here in the UK. Still solo. Still unsupported.
And the reality of that challenge? It’s brutal.
He’s running at least 20 miles a day – often more – carrying the weight of a two-year-old child on his back. He spends days not seeing a soul, he’s fallen so many times along the coastal paths, dislocated his shoulder, lost toenails, and pushed through blisters that most of us couldn’t even look at, let alone run on.
And perhaps most incredibly – he reduced the medication he’s relied on for 20 years to manage his mental health, just so he could travel to the US. The controlled drugs wouldn’t have been permitted. That’s the level of commitment he had to this cause.
He recently shared his story on BBC Radio. It’s raw, honest, and deeply human.
If you can, support his run here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eQmEkQxK
And if you work in media, events, or know someone looking for a speaker who understands what it means to keep going when everything says stop – Ben is an inspiring yet humble human being.
Because in the face of ongoing adversity, Ben is still out there. Everyday.
Running.
Hurting.
Carrying more than just a pack on his back.
And refusing – absolutely refusing – to give up.
You can read more about his story on Macmillan’s website:
https://lnkd.in/e5a7j6X2
