How Dave’s outlook became brighter
Dave, from Lewes, is thankful he found a group of people who could support him through his journey with cancer.
In 2021, Dave’s life was changed when doctors found a tumour in his brain – a GBM4 Glioblastoma Multiforma.
It came as a big shock to him. He had no idea that anything had been wrong, and the tumour only came to light after Dave had a dramatic accident one day at home.
“I didn’t have any inkling at all that there was anything wrong with me,” Dave told us.
”I’d just started an online meeting with someone when I had a seizure. I kicked the furniture out of the way and bit my tongue. There was blood on the carpet and I didn’t come around for around an hour.
“It was all a bit dramatic. It was probably a good thing in the end because it meant the tumour came to light.”
After his seizure, doctors found Dave’s tumour and quickly put him forward for surgery.
“The surgery was very successful, I really was very lucky,” Dave said.
Brighter Outlook was one of the best decisions I’ve made.
Dave’s surgery was not the end of his journey with cancer. After surgery he had lost some of his strength and fitness, so Dave wanted to carry on doing what he has always loved – running.
“I’ve always been a runner, and after I recovered from surgery the nurse said I could start running again – just as long as I had someone with me in case I keeled over.”
Dave has been a part of our Brighter Outlook programme for around a year. It’s a programme which sees people with a cancer diagnosis build up their physical strength and confidence (both pre- and post-treatment) to help give their bodies a fighting chance through treatment.
Brighter Outlook goes beyond just physical conditioning though – it gives people a chance to meet others who are going through the same journey.
Dave started his Brighter Outlook programme soon after he had surgery, but he was very close to never even picking up the phone.
“I was referred to Brighter Outlook by the Horizon Centre in Brighton,” Dave told us, “They gave me a card and I didn’t follow it up at first, but then while running I met someone who had been to Brighter Outlook.
“That spurred me to pick up the phone and find out more about Brighter Outlook – it was one of the best decisions I’ve made.
“Through Ros Addison (an AITC coach) I’ve been able to do some strength & conditioning classes, both online and in person, and I also started doing her run club on a Monday morning down at Hove Lawns. Me and my wife have both been doing it since last November.”
Despite living with a difficult diagnosis – one which could quickly take a turn for the worse – Dave has faced it all with good humour and a determination to carry on doing what he loves.
“My diagnosis is quite a scary one – it could flare up again and become serious quite quickly,” Dave said, “You get used to living from one scan to the next.
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“I think I’ve been quite successful in focusing on the here and now instead of worrying about things I can’t control.”
In April 2022 Dave ran the BM10K in Brighton to help support Albion in the Community. If that wasn’t impressive enough, he’ll be doing it all over again in 2023 too.
“Part of the key to that has been keeping fit and active, and trying to have a healthy diet, and Brighter Outlook has helped me massively in that regard. I think it’s important to live healthily, cancer or not.
“Brighter Outlook has been brilliant for me. Being in those classes and the running club has allowed me to make friends with lots of other people with cancer, at various stages of their journey. It’s mutually supportive: there’s always someone who might not feel very well, but they got themselves out of bed to come and be with friends.”
Through Brighter Outlook, a lot of real friendships have been forged. Dave was part of a group of Brighter Outlook participants who went for a walk in Falmer and visited the Amex Stadium in June – just one of the meet-ups that happen on a regular basis.
“There’s a lot to be inspired by, and it’s been really good for my physical fitness and mental wellbeing,” Dave told us.
If Dave has been inspired by his friends at Brighter Outlook, there’s no doubt he himself has inspired so many others with his determination to live life to the fullest.
To find out more about the Brighter Outlook programme click here: https://bhafcfoundation.org.uk/contact-for-brighter-outlook/
This story was written when our name was Albion in the Community. As of August 1 2023, we are the Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation.