Jim helped by the cancer charity he raised funds for

When Jim Grimmer set off on a virtual walk from John O’Groats to Lands End, he wanted to raise as much as possible for Friends of Anchor (FoA).

He could never have imagined that just months later, a piece of equipment funded by the charity would diagnose his cancer.

The Aberdeen businessman was nearing the end of his online challenge – six miles every day for six months – in July 2021 when he noticed a lump on the left side of his neck.

A few weeks later he got it checked out and was swiftly sent to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for a biopsy and scans, which confirmed he had squamous cell carcinoma.

“It’s incredible how FoA has weaved its way through my journey,” said the 64-year-old, who owns P3 Business Care.

“In my first meeting with my consultant Mr (Muhammad) Shakeel, he commented I was looking really fit, so I told him I’d just completed a 1,000-mile fundraising walk for Friends of Anchor.

“He said the scope he would use to examine my throat was funded by the charity. That examination led him to believe the cancer in my neck was secondary, and sparked further investigations to find the primary source.”

This resulted in Jim having his tonsils removed, before doctors discovered the cancer had originated on the base of his tongue, and then spread into the lymph nodes on both sides of his neck.

They broke the news his cancer was stage three, and from there Jim began a gruelling regime of one chemotherapy and 30 radiotherapy sessions.

“Again, Friends of Anchor was looking after me,” he said. “I was in for radiotherapy Monday to Friday for six weeks and because it was during Covid,

the FoA welcome team volunteers were taking patients’ temperatures when they arrived.

“They noticed mine was high, and I was admitted to the Anchor Unit that day with aspirate pneumonia. Due to the damage in my throat caused by the radiotherapy, my food had been going into my lung.”

Jim became “pretty poorly” and remained in hospital for 12 days.

He continued having his daily radiotherapy, but became unable to eat. He lost three stone, and was fitted with a nasal feeding tube for 14 weeks.

Jim’s wife Ashlyn was by his side throughout, and he finished his treatment in October 2021.

A follow-up scan in March 2022 came back clear and the couple celebrated with a relaxing holiday to Tenerife.

They both started volunteering with Friends of Anchor, with Ashlyn using her skills to support patients with the charity’s listening service.

Jim was a welcome team volunteer – like the one who

conducted the check that caught his pneumonia – until work commitments forced him to step back.

In December last year, however, their lives were turned upside down once more. Scans revealed the cancer was back – this time, very close to Jim’s carotid artery, making it too high risk for even a biopsy.

This left one option: another 30 sessions of radiotherapy.

Jim – who is dad to Grant, Tim, Natalie and Jack – admitted it was difficult to come to terms with.

“To face it again was hard, but I’ve never been one to ask, ‘Why me?’,” he said.

“There’s a one in two chance of being affected with cancer, and I’m just that one.”

Jim used his past experiences to get through the treatment – listening to his body more and drawing on calming exercises from Friends of Anchor’s online mindfulness workshops.

An active member of King’s Church Aberdeen, he also drew on his Christian faith – even asking the

radiotherapy team to play the same worship song, Firm Foundation by Maverick City, every session.

“You just have to do anything to get through,” he said.

Jim had his final session last Friday and now must wait three months for a PET scan.

In the meantime, he is focusing on making his catwalk debut at Brave next month. The fashion show stars local men who have been through, or are going through cancer or haematology diagnosis and raises thousands for Friends of Anchor each year.

Jim, who is urging people to get checked out quickly, said: “I’m absolutely loving it. All the Brave guys have a different story and are at a different place in their journey, but we’re a band of brothers – there’s lots of craic and encouragement.”

He’s also looking forward to the arrival of his fifth grandchild in July.

To support Jim’s catwalk debut, visitjustgiving.com/ page/jim-grimmerbrave2024

JOURNEY: Jim Grimmer has urged people to get checked. Picture by Kami Thomson.