In October 2020, during Covid, Niall discovered a grape size lump on his neck under his right ear, around 5 weeks later, on 11th December 2020 he was given the diagnosis of melanoma that had metastasised and was now in his lymph nodes. After several consultations, pre ops and explanations on February 9th, 2021, he had full right neck dissection, removing over 100 lymph nodes and leaving a scar from his ear down to shoulder, and all the way across the front of his neck. The area is completely numb, with loss of overall strength in the area – a physical and visual daily reminder of the massive trauma skin cancer can and does cause.

As everyone would expect, a cancer journey is a tough one. Niall says, “The worst day wasn’t diagnosis, surgery, illness or any of the other things people imagine, it was the day I had to tell my 13 year old son, knowing I was about to rip a huge hole in his heart was something that I would never want to go through again. If this message helps others to take the right precautions so that they can avoid that conversation, then my experience will be worthwhile. As parents we promise our kids that things will be ok but, on this occasion, I could not give that promise, only that I would do everything I could. This is something that still chokes me 4 years later.

I wanted to become a Sunguard for the Melanoma Fund to help raise awareness, to share a story that will resonate with people and to help and support people and this fantastic charity to deliver the help and support our communities need.”