Alive and kicking and still believing

Do you know where you were on November 6 2014 at 11am? I guess not as for most it was just another day. But for me, it was the moment I was told I had incurable prostate cancer and could be dead in two years. It was the day when, initially, my life ended.

So this week was a milestone celebration as it was nine years since that fateful moment and I celebrated with a thoughtful run through Nonsuch Park in Surrey near where I live.

The park means so much to me – it’s where I used to walk with my Mum and Dad when I was little, where I messed around with my mates as a youth and the place where I got married to Sarah. So what better place to spend that moment?

Still running a few minutes after 11am, listening to one of my favourite bands, Simple Minds, the track that played next was Alive and Kicking. I didn’t choose it for that moment but it brought a huge smile to my face because that’s what I am.

As I ran a rain shower came along and produced a beautiful rainbow, and it made me think about that saying – there’s a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. But right then I realised the real gold is just seeing the rainbow and enjoying that moment in time.

There is no point dwelling on the past because it’s only what we do today that can influence a better future.

The next track that came up was Promised You A Miracle and the next line, “belief is a beauty thing”, is what we all must do at times – just believe in what may be possible.

I know I am lucky to be here when so many men don’t even make the two-year prognosis so I will keep on running and believing for as long as I can. I hope you do too.

No point dwelling on the past as it’s what we do today that counts