Student diagnosed with cancer aged just 3 takes on London Marathon with his friends to help raise £100k

A YOUNG cancer survivor is taking on the TCS London Marathon with six of his friends to give back to the charity that supported him when he was diagnosed with cancer aged just three-years-old.

Billy Greenall, 22, from Ashbourne, was first diagnosed with Wilms’ Tumour, a type of kidney cancer, in 2005 after his mum and dad noticed something wasn’t quite right.

Now, nineteen years on and cancer-free, Billy is gearing up to run the London Marathon on Sunday, April 21, for Young Lives vs Cancer, the UK’S leading charity for children and young people with cancer.

Billy said: “When we were told I had cancer, the diagnosis was life-changing. Since then, our outlooks haven’t been the same since. I have tried my best to block out all the bad times, including the injections, blood tests, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy that I received.”

“Throughout my treatment, I adopted various personas daily, from Spider-man to Scooby Doo and Superman.

“Embracing these characters helped me detach from the reality of my battle with cancer. It made me feel like I wasn’t just facing the challenges alone, but rather embodying the spirit and strength of each character. This gave me courage.”

Billy and his family were supported by Young Lives vs Cancer, and a Social Worker from the charity. It’s the support of their Social Worker that has spurred Billy on to raise money for the charity to help other children and young people facing cancer.

“We first heard about Young Lives vs Cancer the first day that I was diagnosed. A Social Worker from the charity, Christine, was always there for us, providing both emotional and practical support. Without her support, our experience would have been even more miserable.”

Young Lives vs Cancer is a charity that stands beside children and young people (0-25) and their families, empowering them to confront the challenges that cancer presents.

The charity’s social workers provide specialised support, its Homes from Home offer families a comforting place to stay near the child’s hospital, and grants that assist families in managing the financial burdens of cancer.

The London Marathon challenge isn’t Billy’s first endeavour in fundraising for the charity.

After Billy’s cancer journey, Billy and his parents, Johnny and Laura Greenall, played a pivotal role in fundraising for a new Home from Home in Nottingham.

The home, Billy’s House, opened in 2009 and is named after Billy.

After travelling long distances to receive treatment, Billy decided he didn’t want others to have to do the same. He and his family tirelessly raised funds to make the Home from Home a reality and created what it is today – Billy’s house. Billy recently returned to the home in a full-circle moment to see how the service continues to support families, even today, 15 years later.

He remarked: “It means everything to have Billy’s House named after me. I recently returned with my family and friends and couldn’t be more proud. It’s a testament to everyone involved that almost 2,000 families have been supported so far.”

Billy, who is in his final year studying a degree in History of Art and Architectural History at University of Edinburgh said he likes to look positively at how cancer affected his life.

He expressed, “Cancer hasn’t dictated the course of my life, yet it has profoundly underscored its value. I’ve learned not to take anything for granted, a lesson that’s particularly poignant during moments of stress when the bigger picture often escapes me. Cancer has been instrumental in providing clarity and perspective in my life.”

“I decided to take on the London Marathon as it’s the ultimate test of endurance and sheer determination. Despite lacking the athletic prowess of my friends and family who’ve conquered this feat, I’ve always been determined to take on this challenge.

“While I may not be the fastest runner, I firmly believe in the adage ‘slow and steady wins the race.’ I’m ready to embrace the journey, no matter how gruelling it may be. For now, my focus is on crossing that finish line with a smile on my face.”

With an incredible £100,000 fundraising target to hit, Billy and his six friends have already started fundraising during their training for the marathon, and are asking as many people as possible to support their marathon effort.

Billy said: “I’m not quite sure how, but I’ve managed to convince six of my best mates to run the marathon with me. We’re quite the motley crew, with ranging athletic ability. It will be a miracle if we all make it over the finish line in one piece. However, I couldn’t have chosen a better group of lads to run with me. I really hope people will get behind our marathon mission and donate.”

Young Lives vs Cancer Fundraising Engagement Manager, Samantha Hughes, said: “We can’t thank Billy enough for his incredible efforts and his amazing friends taking on the challenge alongside him too.

“Their efforts mean Young Lives vs Cancer can continue to be there for more children and young people, like Billy, who are diagnosed with cancer everyday across the UK. We can’t wait to cheer Billy and his team all the way to the finish line and would love to see as many people as possible get behind the boys too.”

To sponsor Billy and his friends visit https://www.justgiving.com/team/teambilly2024?utm_medium=proxy_team&utm_content=team%2fteambilly2024&utm_source=copylink&utm_campaign=pfp-share