Tony started running in his mid-40s to improve his physical health and fitness...only to discover he was rather good at it. Having always been competitive, he was soon entering events and went on to complete marathons in under three and a half hours.
Five years ago though, Tony experienced a sharp pain in his groin and on investigation, was told that he had terminal prostate cancer and was given two years to live, as the cancer had spread to his spine, neck and skull.
Such profound and devastating news changes life forever. Learning to live with prostate cancer…with the side effects of his treatment (which is basically chemical castration)… and finding any purpose in living….has not been easy.
With counselling and the support of his family, Tony has had to completely reshape his approach to life. He takes every day as it comes, lives every day like it’s his last and does all he can to help others.
This year, he is running 5k every day of the year to raise awareness of the importance of movement when you have cancer and is raising money for the MOVE charity. He has also completed many other fundraising initiatives to raise money for prostate cancer and causes promoting movement.
Since being diagnosed, Tony has also given hundreds of talks about prostate cancer and the importance for men aged 50 and over (45 and over if you are Black or have a family history of prostate cancer) to ask their GP for a PSA test.
Most of all, running helps Tony with his own mental health. Struggling with the side-effects of medication and his prognosis, running helps Tony clear his mind and re-energise. "I force myself to go out (for a run) and once I get back from my 5k, it lifts the veil of fatigue and I feel rejuvenated for the next four to five hours."
You can find out more about Tony on Twitter @ethansgrumps
Facebook as Anthony Collier
Instagram as tonyendurancerunner
#movewithtony
To make a donation, visit Tony's JustGiving page at: 5k365days
Thank you for listening today.
For more details on Why Run? visit: www.whyrun.uk
Follow @whyrunpodcast on Instagram and Facebook
And if you've enjoyed the show, do please leave a review and tell your friends.