Eleanor Fleming

Sean Kelly, a highly active 59-year-old marathon runner from Scarborough, was diagnosed with stage-four small-cell lung cancer after developing breathlessness during a run. Despite chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiotherapy, he died nine months later, on 14 November, after the cancer spread to his brain, kidneys and liver. His widow, Julie, is campaigning for greater awareness, screening, research and treatment options, while continuing his charitable legacy through fundraising. Kelly had raised thousands of pounds for causes including Teenage Cancer Trust and the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, and spoke at 10 Downing Street about the importance of lung cancer screening. The report also highlights NICE guidance recommending serplulimab with carboplatin and etoposide for untreated extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer in England and Wales.

Rebecca Robinson, a first-time mother from Leeds, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia 10 days after giving birth in April 2024. Fatigue, low iron and bleeding gums had initially been attributed to common pregnancy symptoms, but low platelet levels detected during labour led to further investigation. She began chemotherapy within days, stopped breastfeeding and spent much of her daughter Annabel’s first six months in treatment. Robinson reached remission after her first round of chemotherapy, completed four rounds by November 2024 and did not require a stem cell transplant. Now undergoing regular biopsies, she is urging people to seek medical advice about unusual symptoms, while Leukaemia Care highlights the difficulty of identifying blood cancer when symptoms have seemingly harmless explanations.

Chef Nokx Majozi discusses her journey from Durban, where formal cookery training was initially dismissed by her community, to kitchens at Disney, the InterContinental London, Rosewood London and Fallow. Her cookbook, The South African Cook Book, introduces the country’s diverse, multicultural food traditions through accessible recipes from Cape Town to Durban. It features dishes including bunny chow, seven colours meal, baked butterfish, peri peri chicken and rainbow salad, with ingredients and adaptations suited to home cooks abroad. Majozi hopes the book will broaden international understanding of South African cuisine and encourage young South African chefs.

A writer joins Hyrox world champion and record holder Jake Dearden for a demanding training session in London. The workout combines running with stations including the SkiErg, sled push, rowing, burpees, farmer’s carries, sandbag lunges and wall balls. Although the session leaves her exhausted and exposes running as her main weakness, she finds it enjoyable enough to consider entering a Hyrox race. Dearden advises beginners to practise technique, train with others and focus on their weaknesses.

Travel experts Katy Maclure and Rachel Mumford recommend flexibility as the main way to reduce holiday costs. Travellers can save by considering shoulder-season travel, alternative airports and less obvious destinations such as Madeira, Slovenia, Albania and parts of the Balkans. Budget-airline flash sales, last-minute fares and price alerts can help, while baggage fees, bundles and third-party booking charges should be checked carefully. Families travelling during peak school holidays may find package deals cheaper, whereas flexible couples may save by arranging flights and accommodation independently.

Chef Theo Randall argues that Italian food is often unnecessarily elaborate in modern restaurants and should instead emphasize regional traditions, honest ingredients and minimal embellishment. Drawing on his career at The River Cafe, Chez Panisse and his own restaurants, he advocates trusting traditional recipes and using quality olive oil, tomatoes and fresh herbs. His sixth cookbook, The Italian Table, presents 100 regional recipes with location photography, alongside recipes for carbonara, Roman-style chicken and baked panettone.

Food writer Georgina Hayden shares three lesser-known Greek and Cypriot dishes—tava, yiahni and afelia—and explains how slow cooking, vegetables, olive oil and everyday ingredients shape the cuisine. The feature also introduces her cookbook MEDesque, which embraces flexible, approachable Mediterranean cooking rather than strict tradition. Three recipes from the book are included: a dairy-free pappa al ratatouille soup, a streamlined one-pan moussaka and a churros-inspired Dutch baby pancake with hot chocolate.

Chris Packham describes how witnessing the destruction of a badger sett at age 14 gave him his first experience of eco-anxiety and “blind rage.” He connects his lifelong environmental fears to the threat of nuclear war and today’s climate breakdown, but argues that anxiety can be redirected into positive action through campaigning, writing, photography and engagement with nature. Packham also discusses depression, his late autism diagnosis and concern that young people lack adequate mental-health support. His new book, Nature Is The Answer: A Toolkit For Eco-Positivity, offers practical guidance on resilience, activism, social media and identifying misinformation, with the aim of turning eco-anxiety into constructive environmental action.

Jemma Hough describes how her husband Jon died aged 47, just eight months after being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer of unknown primary believed to be centred on his stomach. Initially experiencing only stomach pain and weight gain, Jon underwent testing before beginning chemotherapy, which briefly improved his energy but later caused severe nausea, vomiting and fatigue. When treatment stopped working, he spent his final weeks at Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice and died on 24 March 2025. Jemma and their children received counselling and practical support from the Ruth Strauss Foundation, while a GoFundMe campaign helped them create family memories. Now a widow and single parent, Jemma says the experience has encouraged her to embrace opportunities, express gratitude and speak more openly about grief.

MasterChef winner and cookbook author Tim Anderson recommends five Japanese staples—soy sauce, short-grain rice, dashi powder, mirin and miso—as affordable ways to deepen the flavor of everyday cooking. Drawing on his experiences in Japan, he explains how these ingredients shaped his cuisine and presents JapanEasy Kitchen as a beginner-friendly collection of more than 100 recipes, including vegan and vegetarian dishes. The article also provides recipes for katsu curry parmo, miso e pepe and no-churn soy sauce caramel ice cream.

Diane Morgan discusses switching from vegetarianism to veganism, saying that after several weeks she stopped craving cheese and began finding its smell unpleasant. She attributes the change to concerns about factory farming and says eating more vegetables and avoiding dairy improved her complexion. Morgan shares simple vegan recipes, discusses her partner Ben Caudell’s role in cooking, and offers lifestyle advice including spending time outdoors and switching off phones. She is also appearing in Govia Thameslink Railway’s first safety video, while continuing work on comedy projects including Ann Droid and Last One Laughing.

Tehyana Johnson, a 22-year-old from Norwich, says doctors dismissed debilitating pain, heavy bleeding and other symptoms for about a decade, often attributing them to weight or ordinary periods. After repeatedly seeking help, conducting her own research and enduring long referral waits, she was diagnosed with extensive endometriosis during a July 2025 laparoscopy, which found lesions and scarring affecting multiple organs. Some tissue could not safely be removed, and she continues to experience flare-ups while campaigning for earlier diagnosis, better medical education and stronger support for patients.

London graphic designer Thomas Lake turned an initial £200 purchase of Pokémon cards into Lake Card Store, now reporting about £1.5 million in annual turnover and £450,000 in sales this year. The business grew through nostalgia, the popularity of Pokémon GO, pandemic-era demand and eBay Live auctions, which can attract thousands of viewers and generate £20,000 in an hour. High-value sales include Charizard and Mario Pikachu cards worth tens of thousands of pounds. Lake plans to leave graphic design, expand turnover to £10 million and focus full-time on the business, which he says has grown organically from the original investment.

MasterChef finalist Madeeha Qureshi discusses how writing her debut cookbook, The Red Sea Cookbook, helped her grieve the death of her father. Drawing on her childhood in Jeddah and her Arab and Pakistani heritage, she presents Saudi cuisine as diverse, bold and deeply connected to hospitality, memory and love. The book contains more than 100 accessible recipes, including Saudi coffee, sticky chicken wings, lamb kebabs and mutabbaq, alongside stories intended to make Saudi food and conversations about grief relatable to a broad audience.

Anthony Bryan was diagnosed with a golf-ball-sized astrocytoma at age six and suffered a stroke during emergency surgery, leaving him paralysed on his left side and initially told he would never run again. Through intensive rehabilitation and support from disability sports coaches, he became an athletics world champion, fitness instructor and Guinness World Records holder for the fastest marathon and half marathon by a male athlete with hemiplegia. Now an ambassador for Brain Tumour Research, Bryan promotes hope and inclusion, runs a fitness channel, gives motivational talks and aims to open a gym for people with disabilities.

Willow Poppy Forrest, a previously healthy 17-month-old from Nottingham, died unexpectedly on 11 November 2024 after appearing well the night before. CPR and emergency hospital treatment could not save her, and a post-mortem examination, further testing and genetic tests found no explanation beyond Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI). Her parents, Ella McNally and Josh Forrest, say they remain without answers and are preserving Willow’s memory while coping with their grief. Ella is preparing to run the London Landmarks Half Marathon to raise £3,000 and awareness for SUDC UK, which supports families affected by sudden unexplained deaths in children.

Nick Taylor was diagnosed with terminal glioblastoma in July 2018 after experiencing déjà vu and losing his sense of direction. Despite surgery and radiotherapy, he died aged 62 in May 2019, ten months after his diagnosis. His wife, Helen, describes the devastating impact of his death and how counselling helped her process intense grief and rebuild her life. She is now supporting the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy’s campaign encouraging midlife women to seek mental-health support, while NHS guidance highlights symptoms associated with malignant brain tumours.

Deb Gascoyne was diagnosed with smouldering myeloma in 2009 at age 34 after a nurse arranged a precautionary blood test during an appointment for a persistent sore throat. The disease later became active, and despite relapses in 2019 and 2024, stem-cell transplants and maintenance treatment have helped her live 16 years beyond the life expectancy she initially found online. Gascoyne has seen her children reach major milestones and has raised £248,100 for Myeloma UK, with a London-to-Paris cycling challenge planned to reach her £250,000 fundraising target. She is using her experience to raise awareness, encourage people to pursue unexplained symptoms and promote hope for myeloma patients.

Sid Cooke was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy type 1 at four months after his mother, Sophie, repeatedly raised concerns about rapid breathing, a bell-shaped chest, loss of movement, swallowing difficulties and tongue tremors that were initially dismissed as normal. He received the gene therapy Zolgensma through the NHS and remains on a clinical trial drug, but uses a wheelchair and is unlikely to walk independently. His family describes him as a happy, cheeky child who enjoys school, dinosaurs and Mario Kart. Sophie hopes Sid’s story, alongside singer Jesy Nelson’s announcement that her premature twins have SMA1, will encourage earlier diagnosis and the inclusion of SMA in NHS newborn screening, while reassuring affected families that children with the condition can still lead fulfilling lives.

Adam Goddard, born in London at 23 weeks and weighing 800g after his parents’ long struggle with IVF and miscarriage, has celebrated his first birthday despite doctors initially giving him about a 40% chance of survival. He endured a brain bleed, chronic lung disease, a heart defect, an injured arm and 114 days in hospitals, including several critical episodes when his parents were asked to prepare for his death. After treatment at three hospitals, he was discharged on his original due date and is now described as smiling and enjoying life, although he has limited movement in one arm and is expected to experience developmental delays.

Crystal Portsmouth, a 50-year-old mother of five from Wiltshire, was diagnosed with incurable myeloma in July 2024 after years of anaemia, heavy periods, exhaustion, infections and other symptoms were attributed to fibroids and perimenopause. She was treated with a Mirena coil and HRT, including an instruction to increase her HRT dose, before collapsing at work led to further investigation. Tests at the Royal United Hospital in Bath revealed a pelvic fracture, and a bone marrow biopsy confirmed myeloma. She underwent intensive chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant in January 2025 and is now receiving maintenance treatment while in remission. Portsmouth is supporting Myeloma UK’s Christmas Appeal to raise awareness of the disease’s often vague symptoms and encourage people to seek further answers when something feels wrong.

Chef Mat Kelly was diagnosed with incurable stage-four breast cancer after initially overlooking a lump and later noticing an inverted nipple. The cancer had spread to his lymph nodes, spine, pelvis and ribs, and six rounds of Docetaxel and Phesgo failed to stop its progression. After advocating for targeted treatment, he began Enhertu, which reduced his chest tumours by 30% to 40% and eventually left no detectable metabolic signs of cancer, although he continues lifelong treatment and experiences severe side effects. Kelly now urges men to check their chests, seek medical advice promptly and advocate for answers, while support from his fiancée, family, friends and the Men's VMU has helped him cope with the diagnosis.

Chef Mat Kelly, 42, was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer after initially dismissing a chest lump and later noticing an inverted nipple. The cancer had spread to his lymph nodes, spine, pelvis and ribs, and an initial chemotherapy regimen failed to control it. Treatment with Enhertu has since reduced his tumours and left no detectable metabolic signs of cancer, although he experiences severe side effects and must continue treatment indefinitely. Kelly is urging men to check their chests, seek medical advice promptly and advocate for answers, while peer support from the Men’s VMU has helped him cope with the disease.

Jason Yeo, a 54-year-old man from Devon, was diagnosed with prostate cancer after a routine health check and elevated PSA levels, despite having no symptoms. Initially placed on active surveillance for apparently low-grade cancer, he pursued further tests after experiencing severe anxiety and was later told the disease was more aggressive than first thought. With help from the Prost8 charity, he received cryotherapy at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in March and is now in remission without the urinary incontinence or erectile dysfunction he feared from surgery. Yeo has launched the “Kick Prostate Cancer into Touch” campaign, urging men over 50 to seek PSA testing and calling for a national testing programme. Cancer authorities caution that there is not yet clear evidence that routine PSA screening is effective, while the government says any screening policy must be evidence-led.

Five-year-old Aubrey from Essex was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia after leg pain was initially attributed to growing pains or a pulled muscle. Her condition worsened rapidly, with abdominal swelling, a rash and vomiting blood, leading to emergency treatment at Broomfield Hospital and transfer to Great Ormond Street Hospital. After intensive care, chemotherapy and immunotherapy, Aubrey returned home and is approaching the end of her second chemotherapy round, with maintenance treatment planned for 18 months. Her family credits NHS and Great Ormond Street Hospital staff with saving her life and is raising awareness of childhood leukaemia and support for affected families.

Simone Williamson, a Birmingham mother, was diagnosed with incurable myeloma in 2018 after a severe migraine caused stroke-like symptoms and led to further testing. By then, lesions had weakened bones in her ribs, pelvis and spine, requiring chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant. After relapsing in 2023, she underwent further treatment and reached a second remission, with maintenance chemotherapy and another transplant planned. Williamson is fronting the Knowledge is Power campaign, produced by Myeloma UK and the Race Equality Foundation, to improve awareness of myeloma among Black and Afro-Caribbean communities and encourage people to advocate for their health.

Katelyn De Blick developed a severe abscess after a cracked, decayed tooth was cleaned and sealed at a Mydentist practice in Keighley in 2021. The swelling spread toward her throat and threatened her breathing, requiring emergency tooth removal and abscess drainage under general anaesthetic at Bradford Royal Infirmary. She was left with a painful wound, a permanent scar and ongoing dental anxiety. Following legal investigations, she received a £26,000 out-of-court settlement in January 2025; the practice owner did not admit liability, while Mydentist apologised and said the dentist involved no longer worked there.

Patrick Howard, a 65-year-old man from Liverpool, has survived nearly two years without treatment after being given a terminal penile cancer diagnosis and a prognosis of less than 12 months. Treatment included surgery removing two-thirds of his penis, radiotherapy and two types of chemotherapy. His consultant says he is exceeding expectations, with no further disease progression since chemotherapy ended in October 2023. Howard can still urinate and have sex, though he experiences fatigue, brain fog and lymphoedema. He and his wife Laura are using the extra time to travel and encourage men to seek medical advice promptly, discuss symptoms openly and stay informed about penile cancer and HPV.

William White, a fit and active father from West Lothian, was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2020 after losing weight and noticing blood in his stools. Following surgery and chemotherapy, the cancer returned and spread to his pelvis and peritoneum; in 2023 he was told it was stage 4, inoperable and incurable, with an average prognosis of two and a half years. He is undergoing further treatment while using his limited time to travel, attend events and create memories with his family. His renewed passion for LEGO has led to a collection of nearly 70 sets and a LEGO-themed funeral plan. White hopes his experience encourages people to seek medical advice for unusual symptoms and to pursue meaningful experiences without delay.

Identical twins Riley and Noah Watkins were diagnosed with moyamoya disease eight years apart, after each experienced stroke-like symptoms in childhood. Riley was diagnosed in 2017 alongside a benign hypothalamic hamartoma and underwent two surgeries to improve blood flow to his brain. Noah developed similar symptoms in January 2025 and subsequently received the same diagnosis and surgical treatment from Riley’s surgeon. Although the family investigated whether the condition was genetic, doctors found no evidence explaining the delayed diagnoses. Both boys are recovering well but require regular scans, avoid contact sports and activities involving forceful blowing, and continue to face uncertainty about possible recurrence. Their parents are raising awareness and supporting other families through a Facebook group and fundraising for The Sick Children’s Trust.

Paul Jameson, a 65-year-old father of three from Surrey living with progressive bulbar palsy, broke four wheelchair Guinness World Records in one day at Dunsfold Aerodrome. The event, involving wheelchair races and huskies, raised funds for the MND Association and attracted hundreds of supporters, including Vinnie Jones. Diagnosed in 2017 after initially being given as little as six months to live, Jameson has lost the ability to walk and speak but has completed 50 bucket-list achievements and plans to pursue more challenges.

Olivia Taylor was diagnosed with an inoperable optic nerve glioma at 17 months old after symptoms including unsteadiness, a lazy eye, vomiting and changes in speech were initially attributed to normal development. She lost almost all of her sight within a month and has since undergone chemotherapy and two major brain surgeries. After a biopsy identified a mutation in her tumour, targeted treatment with trametinib and dabrafenib substantially reduced its size and became available through the NHS. Now nine, Olivia uses braille technology, attends mainstream school and is fronting Children with Cancer UK’s Always By Your Side campaign, with her parents urging families to investigate unusual symptoms and recognise hidden disabilities.

David Scott, a 60-year-old father from Leicestershire, was diagnosed with terminal motor neurone disease in February 2024 after initially developing slurred speech. The progressive illness has left him unable to speak, eat or drink normally, dependent on a feeding tube, communication aid, breathing equipment, his wife and carers, and expecting to lose the ability to walk. Through a photography portfolio and fundraising activities that have raised about £60,000, Scott is raising awareness and calling for greater specialist support, government funding and research into a cure. The Department of Health and Social Care says the government remains committed to high-quality MND research.

Retired couple Joan and Noel Patterson from Buxton have completed 120 home exchanges in nearly a decade, saving an estimated £45,000 on accommodation. Through HomeExchange, using reciprocal swaps and GuestPoints, they have stayed in homes, apartments and even a yacht across destinations including France, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Thailand. They value the affordability, local experiences and friendships created by staying in people's homes, and say respectful hosting and access to local advice are central to the experience. Their future plans include trips to Italy and Malta.

Simon Wade, a fit and active father from Devon, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at 41 after fertility problems prompted genetic testing. He had experienced breathing difficulties and daily mucus production since childhood but had been diagnosed with asthma, and did not receive the newborn heel-prick test because it was introduced across the UK only in 2007. Wade currently manages the condition through exercise and physiotherapy, and completed the TCS London Marathon to raise nearly £3,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. After having a daughter through fertility treatment, he is campaigning for greater awareness of late diagnoses and support for research into improving the lives and longevity of people with cystic fibrosis.

Former soldier Clive Phillips was diagnosed with multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) in December 2019 after progressive weakness culminated in his inability to give a thumbs up. The rare, incurable neurological condition can take more than six years to diagnose and is sometimes confused with fatal motor neurone disease. Monthly intravenous immunoglobulin infusions have stabilised Phillips’s symptoms and helped restore hand strength, although he still experiences muscle wastage and reduced dexterity. He has established the social enterprise Making the Most of Now and undertaken demanding cycling challenges to raise awareness and funds for MMN research, while calling for faster diagnosis and more targeted treatments.

Dublin widow Michaela Dunphy says she believes her husband, Dean, held on long enough to marry her before dying three days later from stage 4 glioblastoma. Dean developed stroke-like symptoms and seizures in 2023, underwent two brain surgeries, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but his tumour continued to grow. The couple married at Michaela’s mother’s home on 18 May after obtaining an exemption from the usual notice period; Dean suffered further seizures that night and died in hospital on 21 May, aged 33. Michaela is now raising their daughter, Sloane, as a single parent and plans to establish a foundation in Dean’s name to support brain cancer research and awareness.

Ann Lally, 70, was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer three months after her husband Mike died from the same disease. Despite being told she might have only six to 12 months to live after the cancer spread to her liver and lungs, six months of fortnightly chemotherapy at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust reduced her tumours by 42 per cent. Her cancer is currently stable under three-monthly surveillance, allowing her to meet her first grandchild, travel and resume normal activities. The case highlights that pancreatic cancer can have few early symptoms and is often diagnosed late; symptoms can include jaundice, indigestion, unexplained weight loss, bowel changes and abdominal or back pain.

Paul Jameson, a 65-year-old Surrey father diagnosed with progressive bulbar palsy in 2017 and initially given as little as six months to live, has survived for eight years despite losing the ability to speak, walk and use his arms. He has completed an extensive bucket list, including climbing Mont Blanc and Kilimanjaro, travelling to sporting events and undertaking other demanding challenges. His experience led him and his son David to establish Aura, a funeral-planning company focused on helping people express their end-of-life wishes and arrange dignified funerals. Jameson is preparing to attempt four wheelchair Guinness World Records in aid of the Motor Neurone Disease Association and is also planning a second book, continuing his campaign to encourage open conversations about death and to celebrate life rather than focus solely on mourning.

Mart Roe’s severe back pain and numbness were initially attributed to a virus before emergency scans revealed a missing T3 vertebra, four spinal fractures and advanced myeloma in October 2020. After radiotherapy, chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant, he endured paralysis risk, blood clots, major weight loss and multiple infections, but is now in remission while receiving maintenance chemotherapy. He and his wife Kayleigh are raising awareness through Myeloma UK’s “Know the Warning Signs” campaign, urging people to seek medical advice for persistent pain, fatigue, weight loss or numbness.

Tom and Rosie Dixon are among only seven people worldwide known to have a particular mutation of the DHDDS gene, an incurable ultra-rare condition that causes seizures, tremors, developmental delays and potentially severe neurological decline. Diagnosed in 2022 after whole-genome sequencing at St George's Hospital in London, the siblings currently have stable symptoms but may face worsening mobility and cognitive problems during adolescence. Their parents, Mel and Charlie Dixon, founded Cure DHDDS to fund research into drug repurposing and gene therapy, with a £1.5 million target. The charity's latest warrior walk raised £70,000, while the family reports that biotin and NMN may have helped reduce the children's tremors, though no established treatment or cure exists.

Alison Wallace lost her hearing intermittently from age 13 and became completely deaf in 2020 after developing a rare autoimmune inner-ear condition. The experience damaged her confidence, mental health and relationships, and included an incident in which she was mocked and spat on while using British Sign Language. Her life changed after Hearing Dogs for Deaf People paired her with Damson in 2019; the dog alerts her to sounds such as smoke alarms and doorbells, helping her feel safer, sleep better and regain independence. Wallace has since passed her driving test, moved in with her partner Maciej Filipiak and is expecting their first child.

Kate Greenstock and James Reeve’s sons, Otis and Nelson, were both diagnosed with severe combined immunodeficiency, a rare condition that leaves infants highly vulnerable to infection. Anthony Nolan found German stem cell donors Domenik and Julian for the boys, enabling successful transplants in 2019 and 2022. The family later met both donors at the TCS London Marathon and described them as family, while pledging to raise awareness of stem cell donation and the charity’s life-saving work.

Emily Starling, a 53-year-old woman from Canterbury, received a £10,000 settlement after her jaw fractured during a difficult tooth extraction at an east Kent dental practice in May 2021. The fracture led to infections, sinus problems, cysts, severe pain and psychological distress; surgery at William Harvey Hospital later removed the tooth and fractured bone. Starling said the dentist was unsupportive and that her facial appearance and confidence remain affected. The settlement was reached in December 2024 without the dentist admitting liability, and the dental practice declined to comment. Starling hopes her experience encourages dentists to stop extractions when a tooth cannot be removed promptly.

Kathryn Oddie was diagnosed with myeloma in 2000 after an unexpected nosebleed and was initially told she had around five years to live. Over two decades, she underwent 11 lines of therapy, including chemotherapy, clinical trials and two stem cell transplants, while coping with recurrent infections and exhausted treatment options. After enrolling in a teclistamab trial in 2021, she achieved remission within six months—the first remission of her 21-year illness. Now focused on time with her husband, daughter and grandchildren, Oddie is working with Myeloma UK to raise awareness of the disease and the importance of research into new treatments.

Dan Shilling, a 39-year-old offshore electrical technician and father of two, lost nearly 11 stone after repeatedly being left behind from helicopter flights because of weight restrictions. He reached 26st 1lb during the Covid-19 pandemic while eating calorie-dense offshore meals and coping with bereavement, workplace bullying and depression. After joining Man v Fat Football and Couch to 5K in January 2024, he began counting calories, reducing portions and increasing his activity. He now weighs about 15st 6lb, wears much smaller clothes, runs regularly and no longer takes antidepressants. He plans to run the Rome Marathon in 2026 and has been selected for Man v Fat Football’s Amazing Losers match.

Zeus, a four-year-old Maine Coon living with Daniela Ermolaeva in Moldova, weighs 13kg and measures up to 130cm when standing on his hind legs, making him exceptionally large even for his breed. Ermolaeva says Zeus is gentle, performs tricks and requires substantial food, grooming, toys and veterinary care. Videos initially shared to update friends and family have attracted tens of millions of views on Instagram and TikTok, turning Zeus into a social media star. Ermolaeva plans to continue sharing his growth while educating prospective owners about the financial and practical responsibilities of caring for a Maine Coon.

London flight attendant Andre Hellstrom says he has saved an estimated £50,000 on travel through HomeExchange, visiting nearly 20 cities, resorts and islands, often staying for three to five months. His flexible work schedule enables extensive travel while working remotely. He describes the experience as essentially travelling the world for free and encourages others, particularly solo travellers, to try home-swapping while stressing the importance of trust, respect, reliable cleaning and a commitment to hosting.

London flight attendant Andre Hellstrom says more than a decade of using HomeExchange has enabled 42 home swaps across destinations including Australia, Italy, Mexico, Indonesia, Spain and France, while saving him an estimated £50,000. He typically arranges swaps lasting three to five months and credits the platform with offering inexpensive travel, new friendships and cultural experiences. HomeExchange PR manager Jessica Poillucci advises remote workers to check visa, permit and tax requirements before working from another country. Hellstrom plans to continue using the service and encourages others to try it, particularly solo travellers.

Alice Bolton, a 28-year-old emergency doctor working in Melbourne, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia after initially attributing swollen lymph nodes, bruising and declining running ability to glandular fever. Chemotherapy brought remission by October 2024, but a relapse in March 2025 led to plans for a stem-cell transplant. Both of her sisters are full matches, an unusually rare outcome, and Kate is expected to be the donor. Bolton and her partner Hayden brought their wedding forward after the relapse, while her sisters are running the London Marathon to raise money for Leukaemia UK. Bolton remains hopeful and aims to encourage others facing cancer.

After her husband Nigel died suddenly of a heart attack in 2020, Kate Marillat moved from East Sussex to Sanur, Bali, with her two sons, Kieran and Seb. The emotional resilience coach and author says Bali’s lower living costs, remote-work opportunities and lifestyle have helped the family heal, enabled private education and allowed her to devote more time to self-care, writing and her online business. Although solo parenting and periods of loneliness remain challenging, she describes the move as a fresh start and hopes eventually to travel the world as a digital nomad.

Steve Ley, the UK’s longest-serving prison officer, is retiring after 50 years with HM Prison and Probation Service. Having started at HMP Swansea in 1975, he describes major improvements in prison life, including better medical care, access to televisions and phones, greater emphasis on rehabilitation, and the introduction of toilets in cells to replace chamber pots. Ley says these changes have improved prisoners’ behavior and well-being and have also helped improve the public reputation of prison staff.

Steve Ley, the UK’s longest-serving prison officer, is preparing to retire in May after 50 years with HM Prison and Probation Service. Having worked at several prisons, including HMP Feltham, he describes major improvements in sanitation, medical care, food, activities and prisoners’ access to televisions and phones. Ley believes modern prisons should focus on safety, rehabilitation and helping people avoid reoffending rather than imposing additional punishment. Despite difficult experiences, including deaths in custody and seeing prisoners repeatedly return, he takes pride in supporting inmates and witnessing their reintegration into society. His son Gareth has also become a prison officer, and Ley plans to travel and spend time with family after retirement.

Diana Keys, a 65-year-old woman from Clevedon in north Somerset, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in May 2023 after her early symptoms, including falls and deteriorating speech, were initially attributed to stress following her divorce. Her condition affects her mobility, speech, eating and ability to perform everyday tasks, and she has been given a prognosis of two to five years. With support from the MND Association, she has adapted her home, joined support groups and begun raising awareness, particularly among women, while trying to maintain a positive outlook despite the disease’s incurable and progressive nature.

Diana Keys, a 65-year-old woman from Somerset, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in May 2023, three years after her initial symptoms began. Falls and deteriorating speech were initially attributed to stress following her divorce. Her incurable condition has progressively affected her mobility and speech, with a prognosis of two to five years. Keys is raising awareness of MND, particularly among women, and urging patients to advocate for their health.

Thelma Ainsworth has described how her husband Jonathan, a fit and healthy doctor, delayed seeking help for persistent stomach pain in 2019. After losing weight and conducting his own blood tests, he was diagnosed with advanced bile duct cancer at St Mary’s Hospital and died three weeks later. Left widowed with two young children, Thelma channelled her grief into the book I Am A Wolf Tonight, which explores trauma, bereavement and resilience. She hopes the account will encourage people to have persistent or unusual symptoms checked promptly.

Jo Swann left a successful corporate career at Legend-QDI in Slough and moved with her husband, Richard, to Malaysian Borneo in 2005. After initially helping run Adventures In Borneo, she shifted her focus during the Covid-19 pandemic to psychology, self-development and transformational retreats. She now lives in Kota Kinabalu, enjoying diving, hiking and close encounters with Borneo's wildlife, and has published the self-help book Turbulence.

Dave Talbot, a 67-year-old Bristol father who survived aggressive breast cancer and a right-side mastectomy, has received a realistic 3D nipple tattoo nearly a decade after his diagnosis. He says the procedure restored his sense of completeness and is encouraging other men to seek medical tattooing without embarrassment. Medical tattoo artist Lucy Thompson and specialists from the Men’s VMU emphasize that men often have fewer post-mastectomy options and face stigma, while a partnership between the Nipple Innovation Project and Bradford Teaching Hospitals aims to expand access to the procedure.

Cameron Hassall, 32, lost much of his left leg after crashing a newly purchased motorised trike outside his Sileby home on June 1, 2024. The accident shattered his ankle and led to multiple surgeries, gangrene, below-knee amputation and a further amputation following a bone infection. Hassall now uses a wheelchair, experiences severe pain and receives weekly counselling for PTSD. His mother, Amanda, is raising £10,000 for a lightweight prosthetic leg and physiotherapy so he can regain independence and spend more active time with his seven-year-old son.

Oli Penno, a 19-year-old from Cornwall, says his GP initially treated persistent testicular swelling and pain as an infection and advised STI and urinary tract infection testing. After his symptoms worsened, an A&E assessment in January 2024 diagnosed testicular cancer that had spread to his abdomen and lungs. He underwent removal of his right testicle, chemotherapy and later lymph-node surgery, followed by complications including infections and sepsis. Now cancer-free and receiving regular check-ups, Penno is fundraising for Teenage Cancer Trust and urging young people to challenge medical advice and seek assessment for unusual symptoms.

Neil Morris, a fit 44-year-old father from Oxfordshire, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in November 2023 after chest pain initially seemed like indigestion or heartburn. He underwent intensive chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other treatments before receiving a stem cell transplant in May 2024 from an unidentified donor in Germany arranged through Anthony Nolan. Morris is recovering at home, while his wife Jenny is preparing to run the London Marathon to raise funds for Anthony Nolan and encourage more people to join the UK stem cell donor register.

Marv Young, a 51-year-old woman from south London, lost more than 45kg and dropped six dress sizes after a necklace given to her in 2022 failed to fit around her neck. Following years of emotional eating linked to the deaths of three family members and a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, she began the 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan in January 2023. Consultant support and meal-replacement products helped her reach 64.5kg within a year, while she reports improved mobility, stable MS and a healthier relationship with food. Now a consultant herself, Young hopes her experience will encourage others to address their emotions and believe in their ability to change.

Carmen Grover, a registered nurse from Ontario, describes losing seven babies between 2016 and 2023 while ultimately welcoming four surviving children. After doctors could not explain the repeated pregnancy losses, she wrote letters to the babies and compiled them into her 2023 book, A Diary for My Babies: Journeying through Pregnancy Loss. Grover hopes her experience will help others speak openly about grief, avoid suffering in silence and find hope amid loss.

Luci and Mike Clayton-Jones turned home-brewing wedding favours into Double-Barrelled Brewery, a Berkshire business now valued at £5 million and producing up to 1.3 million pints a year. After starting in their garage in 2015, they moved to a warehouse in Reading, launched distinctive sour beers and imperial stouts, and secured retail partnerships with Waitrose, John Lewis and Tesco. The couple say working together has strengthened their relationship, despite the difficulty of switching off from the business, and they aim to become one of the UK’s major family brewers.

Saira Malik, a 54-year-old mother of three from Surbiton, received an £8,500 out-of-court settlement after an upper molar extraction in 2019 allegedly caused a fractured jaw, severe haemorrhaging and an intensive-care admission. The dental practice’s owners settled the claim without admitting liability and said they disputed the facts presented by her solicitors while maintaining that they provide high standards of care. Malik continues to experience trauma and is urging patients to question treatment advice and seek second opinions.

Kirsten Parry, a 29-year-old music director from Surrey, has spent three consecutive Christmas periods in hospital after infections triggered severe Crohn’s disease flares. Diagnosed in 2021 after worsening gastrointestinal symptoms, she experienced sepsis, Clostridioides difficile infection, severe bowel ulceration, malnutrition and six hospital admissions in total. Infliximab and ongoing medical care have improved her symptoms, although she continues to experience anxiety about illness, germs, food and access to toilets. She hopes to avoid another December admission by creating positive Christmas memories and encourages others to advocate for themselves and trust their health concerns.

Chloe Hurst spent nine months as an assistant estate warden on the remote Calf of Man, carrying out habitat management, wildlife surveys, bird ringing and upkeep of the island’s facilities. The island can only be reached by boat, has limited supplies and utilities, and wardens may go weeks without transport during bad weather. Despite infrequent showers, isolation and difficult living conditions, Hurst described the experience as profoundly rewarding and returned in 2024 as a paid estate warden. The work strengthened her interest in conservation and in living a simpler, more self-sufficient life.

Mary and Sean Davies bought a Second World War water tower at the former Nocton Hall RAF Hospital site in Lincolnshire in 2018 and have spent years converting it into a seven-bedroom family home. Costs have risen from an initial £350,000 budget to more than £500,000, including major infrastructure and safety requirements, leaving the couple reliant on £100,000 borrowed from family and a £20,000 GoFundMe appeal. Sean’s recent diagnosis with incurable motor neurone disease has increased the urgency to finish the accessible home while he remains mobile.

Joe Woollen received a £17,000 out-of-court settlement after a 2.1cm dental anaesthetic needle allegedly snapped and became lodged in the soft tissue at the back of his mouth during a 2021 tooth extraction at The Vale Dental Clinic in London. He required hospital surgery under general anaesthetic and says he was left with permanent facial nerve damage, numbness, dribbling and recurring injuries from biting his cheek. The Dental Law Partnership argued that reasonable care and faster hospital referral could have prevented or reduced the harm. The dentist disputed the account and did not admit liability, while Woollen said he was satisfied with the settlement and wanted to move on.