Tidworth soldier speaks out about cancer treatment
32 year old Ben Cloonan has had testicular cancer twice
Last updated 6th Jan 2021
The soldier from the 22 Royal Engineers went through treatment for a second time in March this year.
He started getting pains late last year while he was serving in Estonia, having scans on his return to the UK.
Ben says he's had help from the Macmillan charity throughout:
"When I was diagnosed first in 2010, I ended up going to Macmillan for therapy. When it came to being diagnosed for a second time, Macmillan have always been there for me so I've tried my best to be in an event with them, so we can raise some money and awareness for cancer and mental health.
"(Macmillan's) continuously helping me through different steps of dealing with cancer twice. The mental health side is just as evil as cancer sometimes in my eyes. It's all a slow process but I refuse to get beaten by it, so it's just one of those processes I've got to go through."
Ben went back home to Shropshire to recover after surgery and chemotherapy and is now doing really well.
He's been building up his fitness to return to work and his colleagues have been doing what they can to show support as well.
A team of Royal Engineers have taken on the challenge of throwing 9 kilogram medicine balls against a wall at Tidworth Barracks for 12 hours straight.
They've managed to raise £1,700 by completing 17,432 reps - that's the equivalent of throwing more than 156 tonnes, or two and a half Challenger tanks!
Staff Sergeant Gary Rawcliffe, who helped organise the event for Ben, said:
“We had a seriously strong team and managed to maintain great team work and morale, despite the rain and cold.
“We wanted to show solidarity with Ben at the same time as raising money for a good.
Ben says he's proud of his mates, and has a message for me reading his story:
"Just look after yourself really, check your balls and if you're a bit sceptical, go to the Macmillan website__, all the information's there or if not, you've got all sorts of different charities that are willing to help you out."
Ryan Howarth, fundraising manager at Macmillan, said:
“I can’t thank Ben, Gary and the regiment enough for turning the devastating news of Ben’s second diagnosis into a brilliant fundraiser. The money they’ve raised will help us be there for more people with cancer, just like Ben.”