AN ANDOVER man’s personal battle with cancer has been used as part of a poster campaign ahead of World Cancer Day on Thursday.

Craig Spicer, 30, who lives in Suffolk Road with his wife Dawn and five-year-old son Alfie, tells his remarkable story and commitment to wearing the charity’s Unity Band.

“In 2011, I was a fit and healthy 26-year-old working as a physical training instructor for the Army,” he said.

“So when I was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, it came as quite a shock.

“Four months into my six month stint of chemotherapy, my wife – who had cervical cancer three years earlier – gave birth to our son, Alfie.

“Due to the effects of my treatment, I was hospitalised at the time so I was unable to be at the birth. It was a really difficult time as Alfie was in special care for the remaining two months of my treatment.

Four years on, things are going well.

“I’m still working as a physical training instructor and I have just come back from the World Drug Free Powerlifting Championships, in which I am the 56kg Senior world champion for the second year running.

“I’m proud to be wearing my Unity Band for World Cancer Day, as I want everyone to have a life after cancer, just like I have.”

World Cancer Day 2016 on February 4 will see Cancer Research UK working with three of the UK’s leading cancer charities to make a bigger difference to fighting the disease.

Cancer Research UK is working with Breast Cancer Care, Anthony Nolan and the Movember Foundation to reach our collective goal – transforming the lives of millions affected by cancer. Each charity is stocking Unity Bands in their own colours with funds raised going towards their life saving research or support services.