Eastbourne man to run the London Marathon following blood cancer diagnosis
A man from Eastbourne is running the London Marathon to raise funds for Lymphoma Action five years after receiving a lymphoma diagnosis. Ben Couldwell was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, in 2021. Ben’s condition is such that it has not required any treatment as of yet, but he is on active monitoring where he receives regular check-ups with his medical team. Determined that his diagnosis will not hold him back, Ben will be running the iconic marathon route on Sunday 26 April to support the UK’s leading charity dedicated to supporting people affected by lymphoma. Ben’s fundraising page can be found at https://www.justgiving.com/page/ben-couldwell-2
“When I found out about my diagnosis it was completely unexpected, as I am sure is the case for many people living with cancer” says Ben. “I had lost quite a large amount of weight in a relatively short period of time and was experiencing extreme fatigue. Luckily my husband encouraged me to go to the doctor and following numerous scans and tests we got the final diagnosis.”
“Living with lymphoma tests you in quiet, relentless ways” he continues. “Training for the London Marathon has become my way of proving to myself that I’m still strong, still moving forward, and still in control. I chose to run for Lymphoma Action because their support has meant so much to me since my diagnosis. Living with cancer on active monitoring can feel overwhelming, and Lymphoma Action provides the information, community, and reassurance people like me rely on. They truly understand what living with lymphoma is like.”
“I wanted to find a way of turning a difficult experience into something positive” he adds. “My personal triumph is coming to terms with the cancer that I have, whilst not letting it dictate what my life holds for me. Events like the Marathon are completely out of my comfort zone but crossing that finish line will mean more than anything as it’ll be proof that I can take on a challenge by choice – not just the ones that my diagnosis has thrown at me.”
“We are so grateful to Ben for his support, and we can’t wait to cheer him on from the sidelines on race day!” says Laura Thompson, Challenge Events Fundraiser at Lymphoma Action. “Every year, more than 18,000 people in the UK are told they have lymphoma, making it the most common type of blood cancer. With this year marking our 40th anniversary, we’re more determined than ever to transform the experience of people affected by lymphoma. Thanks to the support of amazing people like Ben, we can make sure that people can navigate a lymphoma diagnosis with the information, support and community they need so that no one faces lymphoma alone.”
For further information about lymphoma, and the work of Lymphoma Action please visit www.lymphoma-action.org.uk