Go the distance to support Josh and Chris O’Brien Lifehouse

When 20-year-old Josh Griffiths of Gosford found a strange lump on his neck during his regular morning shave, he wasn’t too concerned at first.

But what came next was a rare cancer diagnosis which took him from his brand-new job at the Army Barracks to the biggest battle of his life.

Last November, his life was turned upside down as he underwent chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy.

Aside from the lump, he had no other signs or symptoms and felt completely fine, but when a colleague pointed out the same lump later that day he decided to get checked by the doctor on base.

Diagnosed with synovial sarcoma, a rare form of soft tissue cancer, he was sent to Chris O’Brien Lifehouse in Sydney.

“Cancer wasn’t a consideration at first, but as all the testing went on, it became a possibility,” he said.

“I was just angry rather than sad because I had just got into the Army and that had taken so long to get there.

“I had gone through a full year of Army training just to get cancer.

“During one of my first talks with the doctor he said you’re probably wondering why this happened to you.

“He said there is no cause, I was just unlucky.”

The Griffiths family lives in Gosford, so his mum and dad were grateful to stay at the YouCan centre at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse while Josh received treatment.

Now that treatment stopped a month ago, he has not only resumed working two days a week at his local Army Reserve base, he has also decided to share his story to support, promote and participate in the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse Go The Distance challenge.

Throughout the month of September, participants can swim, bike, run or walk to help raise funds to bring life-changing cancer care closer to home for regional patients.

“I am aiming to do whatever I can throughout the month,” Griffiths said.

“It will probably be swimming now that the weather is warming up.”

Money raised will help fund research, purchase cutting-edge technology, and support holistic services like transport and accommodation to ensure the best case is accessible to all people living in NSW.

“Everyone at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse is really, really good at their job and really really kind,” Griffiths said.

“I can’t say I had one bad experience.” To find out more about the challenge visit Go the Distance