About Simon Fenn

On January 5th 2012, Simon Fenn was diagnosed with cancer.
At the age of 29, Simon was a personal trainer and fitness instructor, had degrees in Sports and Exercises Sciences (University of Birmingham), Sports Biomechanics (Loughborough University) and Chemical Engineering (University of Newcastle), had competed numerous marathons and triathlons including three Ironman races and had represented Great Britain in the duathlon. Just before he became ill in October 2011, Simon ran the Amsterdam Marathon in 3 hours and 9 minutes, qualifying him for the elite entrants to the London Marathon. Surely one of the world’s least likely candidates for cancer...
Simon’s illness first manifested itself with back pain. Hayley, his girlfriend, now wife, with whom he lived in Rugby, suggested that it might be the result of the recent marathon but Simon was certain that this pain wasn’t muscular and he would know. The pain would ebb and flow and for most of November, Simon appeared fit and well. However, multiple trips to the doctors progressed to visits to accident and emergency. Finally, on Christmas day, Simon was admitted to hospital.
After two weeks of tests and scans, Simon and his family were told that abnormal cells had been found in the small bowel and the abdominal lymph nodes. Simon, Hayley, Jean and Clive (his mother and father) clung to each as the news sank in, but within seconds Simon was declaring that he would ‘smash it’!
The following week, more devastating news; the treatment intended for Simon’s cancer would not be a cure, but rather a life-lengthening process. Treatable but not curable. Again, amidst the tears as he embraced Hayley, Simon was adamant that he would do his best to be as healthy as possible for as long as possible. At this moment, Simon and Hayley decided to get married.
Over the next two weeks, Simon developed gastro-intestinal problems, which prevented him from gaining the strength necessary to endure chemotherapy. After various procedures and tests it was concluded that there was nothing to be done: Simon was simply too unwell to undergo chemotherapy.        ... continued Part 2