Dads who tackled grim diagnosis head-on

He had been irritated by a tickling feeling in his cheek for months. Doctors thought it was the result of a knock during a game of rugby, as Danny was captain of Sheffield Rugby Union Club.

"I went to get the results of a scan, on top of the world, and ended up in tears," recalls Danny.

Doctors said the scan had revealed that something was growing in his face. Having suffered skin cancer before, Danny feared the worst.

"I had to go to Kerry who was cuddling our two-day-old baby and tell her that something was growing in my face. I went from the happiest day of my life to the worst in a matter of hours."

A biopsy confirmed Danny's fears as it revealed a malignant tumour.

"The problem was the position of the tumour made if very difficult to get to. I was really lucky with the team of surgeons I had, but at first I don't think they knew what to do with me because this type of cancer is so rare."

Danny was diagnosed with ACC (Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma), a form of cancer so rare that most cancer charities don't fund research into it – the benefits to the wider public being deemed too small. He was 31 years old. His cancer was rare, but luckily it was operable locally in Sheffield Hallamshire Hospital. But the operation wouldn't be simple.

Due to the inaccessibility of the tumour, the surgeon would have to access it from the top of Danny's head. This would involve a "brain lift", further complicating the procedure. It would also mean the loss of his right eye and most of the bone structure in the right-hand side of his face including much of the roof of his mouth. With the backing of his partner, parents, family and friends, Danny opted to take his cancer on. He under- went the 20-hour operation despite only being given a 50 per cent chance of success and a chance he wouldn't make it through the surgery.

"When they told me I would lose my eye I didn't really even think about it. It was my only chance of seeing my son grow up and I was going to take it whatever the cost."

Five years on, Danny is fit, active, happy at home and work at Sheffield Hallam University where he is sports service manager, and he is about to celebrate the milestone fifth anniversary of being cancer-free.

To mark the event, Danny and 22 friends and family plan to cycle from Glasgow to Weston Park Hospital where he received his cancer treatment. "My surgeon Jerry McMahon moved to work in Glasgow shortly after my surgery. My brother-in-law came up with the idea of a charity cycle ride and so we came up with the idea of the From Surgeon to Surgery challenge. Jerry is also joining us."

On Tuesday, they will embark on the 300-mile ride in five days, aiming to raise 20,000 for Weston Park Hospital and Neurocare, the charity which funds much of the neurosurgery at the Sheffield centre.

"It is not until you need their services that you realise how lucky you are to have such facilities on your doorstep," says Dan, who

has since married Kerry and had another son, three-year-old Ben.