Outrunning Cancer

My name is Freddie. I am 17 years of age and I’m fundraising by running the Manchester Half Marathon for The Christie Charity in October. My aim is to help raise money to fund further research into all types of cancer that affect teenagers and young adults.

In early December 2024, after suffering from

both blurred and double vision and increasingly bad headaches, I went to see my local GP. After further describing my symptoms, the doctor referred me immediately to Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester for a CT scan.

I had severe water on the brain or hydrocephalus caused by a tumour which was blocking the normal circulation of CSF fluid around the brain.

I was transferred immediately to the neurology department at Salford Royal Hospital where I had an emergency operation to reduce the pressure on my brain.

During my recovery from surgery I was informed that I would need a further operation to determine the type of tumour and whether it was cancerous by means of a biopsy.

I was subsequently diagnosed with a

rare germ cell tumour . I am currently undergoing 12 weeks of chemotherapy followed by 6 weeks of radiotherapy at The Christie Hospital.

My life has changed so much in a short space of time. The outlook is hopeful and if I can help others by sharing my story and doing something positive, this experience will benefit others too.