Gethin jones has left his place on the BBC Morning Live couch to join Craig Maxwell, who was given only a few months to live.
Craig, chief commercial officer of the Six Nations was diagnosed in July 2023 with terminal lung Cancer and told that he only had between 10 and 18 months left to live.
He has now embarked on a 780 mile trek in order to raise funds that are desperately needed by others. His goal is to raise PS1 million.
Craig’s journey is 780 miles long because it took 78 days for him to be diagnosed. He wants this process to be dramatically improved to detect the disease earlier.
The Welshman’s inspirational mission has attracted 530 people, including Gethin, his closest friend who walked alongside him from Bangor to Caernarfon (North Wales).
Gethin Jones joined Craig Maxwell, a friend who was given only a few months to live.
Craig, chief commercial officer of the Six Nations was diagnosed with terminal cancer lung in July 2023. He was given between 10 and 18 months.
Gethin asked Craig on Morning Live how he was dealing with the physical aspect of his mission.
He said: “You are one of the most positive and optimistic people we know, but Craig, seriously, what are you going through physically? How are you finding it?” How difficult is it?
Craig responded, ‘I don’t admit things easily but it is getting harder.’ The blisters are painful, and the tablets have caused me to feel quite tired. I’m running between 18-24 miles a day.
“My dream is do as much as I can, but I will have to take a few days off because it’s becoming harder.”
Gethin asked Craig then why he walked around Wales rather than ‘putting his foot up’ or going away on holiday.
He said, “There are two reasons.” The first is that my wife and I went through a lot of pain by waiting those 78-days. We felt we had to do something good for the next family.
“That was not something we wanted anyone else to experience, and there are many ways we can solve this problem.” This is what really drives and motivates us.
Craig courageously said to MailOnline that he had been told by doctors at the beginning of July that he only had between 10 and 18 more months.
Gethin will join him on the 780-mile trek between Bangor, North Wales and Caernarfon to help raise PS1 million.
Craig and his wife Tracey with their two children, Isla and Zach
I am afraid. I’m afraid of the things that I will not be able influence. I’m arranging my funeral and taking care of all my business.
I want to make sure my wife is not worried about anything. She’ll only have to worry about her and the children when she wakes up.
“We’re going to Disneyland Paris, but I don’t want to go on many big trips. I want to snuggle my children, watch movies on the couch with them, and have adult discussions with them about what is important, life, and what I’ve learnt. I’ll tell my kids it’s all going to be okay.
“I want to prepare them for the future, even though I will not be there. It’s my goal. My main motivation is to show my children that there are some important things in this life.
It’s all about family and friendship.
It’s important to not be defeated. My daughter was the first to say, “Daddy, I know that you will do everything possible to fight this.” The first thing my daughter said was ‘Daddy, I know you’ll do everything to fight this.’
I want to show my children that despite adversity, you can and will pick yourself up.
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