The Power of Movement
By Helen Murray
May 13, 2024
MY GOAL ALL THROUGH TREATMENT AND RECOVERY WAS TO PLAY HOCKEY AGAIN
I’ve always been active and my life has always been about sport – running, rugby and especially hockey. About 5 or 6 years ago I had a genetic heart condition detected but apart from an annual scan, nothing changed and I remained fit and healthy. During my scan a couple of years ago the consultant noticed something which was initially thought to be scar tissue but I was referred to a lung specialist who then detected a tumour. I had surgery and it was removed but tests found it to be the early stages of cancer.
It was the last thing I expected. It all happened so fast and I just dealt with it but I guess it didn’t really sink in. I had no concept of how major the surgery was and at the time I think my wife had more of the worry and emotional upset. Three months of chemo was recommended but of course, I was already thinking about what exercise I could do…
When I was still in hospital I decided to do a lap of the grounds (it’s set out in a quadrangle so it was a natural loop). Then I pushed myself to do two laps. Soon after getting out of hospital I was walking at parkrun and taking my dog for a walk. I went into surgery fit and I’m sure that helped my recovery afterwards. After my Genesis chemo treatment I was given a physical exercise programme which felt good and it’s actually changed the way I exercise. In the past I always did cardio but now I do strength exercise as well.
My goal all through treatment and recovery was to play hockey again. When I was in hospital I got confirmation that I’d been selected for the England over 55s team for the hockey world cup in New Zealand. The coach and management were very supportive of my situation but basically I had six months from the end of my chemo to get myself fit…
I picked up a hockey stick again three weeks after chemo! Over the next couple of months my club got to the national over 50s final and I then played in the home nations matches in June. Management was very gentle on me, getting me back on the pitch gradually and subbing me off when required. By August/September I was playing whole games for my club and by November I was off to the world cup in New Zealand! I played in all the matches and we beat Australia in the final!
My year started as the worst ever but it turned out to be one of the best. I could never have imagined being part of that winning team. Just getting to New Zealand was my goal but to be the world cup winners was immense – I felt so emotional at the end.
I think that the whole cancer journey has actually been tougher on my wife, Claire. The “what if?” was always there and she struggled. She took a year off work to support me and had so much time to dwell on things. BUT there has been a positive change for her too. Claire was never sporty but on that first parkrun walk I did after surgery, she came along to keep me company. She then went with me a few more times and progressed to running. She’s now done almost 100 parkruns and also does pilates and yoga – her life has totally changed.
So much has happened in the past couple of years. I’m now doing over 60s hockey – last year I was part of the England team that won the European championships. I currently have 6-monthly scans and then that will drop to annually. My lungs don’t work perfectly but I manage my exercise in different ways. My lung function isn’t quite what it used to be but otherwise I’m as fit as ever. My knowledge of lung cancer was very limited – my first reaction was death but I was wrong… Also, I’ve never smoked in my life but I now know that anyone can get lung cancer.
I stumbled upon 5k Your Way when I was at one of my local parkruns – Leybourne Lakes. I got chatting to the group and applied to be an ambassador there about a year ago. Months later I decided I’d like to set up a 5k Your Way group elsewhere in Kent (Gravesend) so I set about getting some fundraising underway to help launch a group (with funds from the North Downs trail run and the hockey community, both locally and further afield). I approached my local running club too – some had their own cancer stories and they were really supportive. Shorne Woods 5k Your Way started last November and it’s going really well. We’ve got a great team and we’re slowly growing. The parkrun run director there has their own cancer journey and is now a 5k Your Way ambassador.
Setting up this group has been an important part of my journey and long-term recovery. So many people have been involved in getting me back to fitness, getting me back to hockey and helping me launch this 5k Your Way group – and they’re all part of my story.
