Welcome to Kevin's Blogs
Kev has been writing about living with inoperable prostate cancer for a few years now and whilst it is obviously very important to Kev, running is only a part of the story. His blogs evolved from emails he would write to communicate with his friends/colleagues/supporters en masse and they have since evolved in complexity and scope. Here we have put them into blog form, the most recent at the top so scoll down for the ones dating back to the start. They give an incredible insight into this kind of experience and how we can all move forward from such a traumatic and devastating moment.
Below is his first 'blog', from November 2014, which was actually an email to his colleagues at the bank not long after his diagnosis. It's powerful and sobering to say the least reading something back which was written right there and then in the middle of the maelstrom.
Kev's 1st 'blog' : confirmation of the diagnosis
Hi Guys
I am afraid it could not have been much worse.
I have Metastatic Prostate Cancer (I am in esteemed company as that is what Alvin Stardust had), I will leave you to Google it but there is no cure and they can only try to stop it for a while or slow it down, bit of a bummer.
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Dear All Well baring some kind of disaster, I will be boarding a plane for the desert a week today, Friday 7th. I have all the kit, the food, my medication, medical sign offs from 3 doctors, been heat acclimatised plus the excitement of being able to do my only bucket list item again, I never thought that would be the case this time last year. Those of you who have seem me recently may have noticed a massive grin on my face for much of the time, those dark thoughts are not in town right now that’s for sure!
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Kevin's Blogs
Hi All This months blog is as ever highs and lows, I am delighted to say that there are only a few lows and many more highs so the sky is blue and the sun is shining in my world right now. Sorry its so long (oo err) but so much has happened in the last 6 weeks. So to go back to where I left off, my hip was still not right so I pulled out of a 45 mile race, my last blood test had flattened out which had me worried that it was the bottom apex of…
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Hi All A belated Happy New Year to you all, its probably a little too late officially to say it but I think its never too late to say the right thing! Hope you all are doing as well as you can be in your individual circumstances, I know from replies to me that many of you have personal or family challenges, I think of you all and send all my good vibes to you (Not that I have many!) frequently. As ever, you are getting this email as you have supported me in some way whilst on my journey,…
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Monday, 28 November 2016 21:06
Here's to 2017's THOUSAND mile challenge (blog #12)
Written by Kevin Webber
Hi All So my latest update hard on the heels of the last. As ever, you are receiving this because you have sponsored me, wished me well or encouraged me in some way in recent times, rest assured no matter what way it was, because you are receiving this you are important in my life and helped me carry on. If you no longer wish to receive these just email me back and I will not send any more, I wont be offended.
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Dear Supporter Today , November 6th 2016 is the most special anniversary for it is exactly 2 years ago to the day when I was told by my Urologist that I had incurable Prostate Cancer and maybe as little as 2 years to live. I have written before about how emotional that day and the time afterwards was but apart from the obvious never really explained why. You see, I worked it out that if I was to die in 2 years then a year of chemotherapy and radiotherapy with all that goes with that plus a year of gradual…
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Dear Supporter You are receiving this email because as at sometime during my journey you have sponsored me, given me some encouragement (in person or by email/text) or supported me in some other way, I remain eternally grateful for whatever you have done. If you do not want to receive any more please email me back and I will take you off of the list, I wont be offended and hope I have not offended you? If you would rather I sent this to an alternative email address please let me know.
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Dear All So its two weeks since my return from the desert, what a fantastic place it is . The week was an experience of the highest highs and the lowest lows almost every day. The camaraderie amongst all 1200 competitors was amazing, everyone wanted everyone to finish, on the long day the whole camp got to their feet to cheer in the final few finishers who had been on their feet for over 32 hours.
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Hi I hope you wont mind but I thought I would give you an update on my health issues and details of my probable last big race and fund raiser. I am now back in the swing of being at work, although still 4 days a week there are bits that I am getting my teeth into. The first stage drugs effectively failed a few weeks ago, it was always going to happen but was a bit quicker than I had hoped so I have started the next type of testosterone blockers whilst carrying on with the first ones still.
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Wednesday, 06 January 2016 00:00
Hormone treatment, blood tests, cancer growth (blog #7)
Written by Kevin Webber
Dear Kind and Generous Sponsor, a long over due update sorry for the delay. Thank you again for sponsoring me in my running efforts, hopefully this one will fully justify your support! I have been back at work now for a couple of months, four days a week for now and people have been great in both welcoming me back and being most understanding and accommodating of my situation.
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Wednesday, 15 July 2015 20:18
Mentally things have been very tough (blog #6)
Written by Kevin Webber
Sorry its been too long since my last contact but I guess the fact I have not felt like it is the measure of where I have been mentally for a while. I hope you are all keeping well, I know that some of you have had your own challenges whilst I have been away and hope that they are moving ahead positively. So what have I been up to other than soaking up the sun whenever I can?
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What the difference a year makes? Last year same race 3 hours 47 minutes, this year 4 hours 36 minutes, my slowest, most emotional and painful marathon ever but also the one that gives me most pride. I don't know if it was the cancer, the chemo, the hormone drugs, the chest infection or the lack of training for the last month or combination of the above that slowed me although that's kind of irrelevant now.
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My last generic update before the big Brighton Marathon day on Sunday. Firstly I continue to be overwhelmed by the support I have had from everyone whilst I am going through my treatment, it has made a massive difference mentally and enabled me to put some darker thoughts to the back of my mind sometimes, I have also raised a few quid for Prostate Cancer UK along the way.
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