A Belfast man has been left "overwhelmed" after a fundraising campaign raised over £23,000 in the space of five days to support his bid to beat pancreatic cancer.
Aidan O'Neill has been undergoing treatment since being diagnosed back in January this year.
The 56-year-old - who has completed countless marathons and half-marathons, and over 250 parkruns - is one of the founding members of the Run Anon running club in Crumlin.
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Running has been Aidan's life, but now he faces one of his biggest challenges.
"I started taking unwell last November," Aidan told Belfast Live.
"I had actually ran a 100-mile race in Victoria Park last October and finished second, and about four weeks later I started getting some pains in my stomach.
"They initially thought it was an ulcer, but I didn't feel right and then on Christmas Day I felt really bad, and on Boxing Day I went into hospital because the pain was that bad.
"They did some scans and diagnosed me with pancreatic cancer in January.
"I have had 12 batches of chemotherapy and I am off it now. I have a lot of aches and pains when I get up every day, but I have been told that is part of the 'comedown' from the treatment.
"That will probably last for about six weeks."
Aidan was initially told his tumour was inoperable because it was attached to an artery.
But after responding positively to chemotherapy, he is set to travel to England later this month for specialist laser treatment which costs in the region of £28,000 and is currently not available in Northern Ireland.
Aidan will make the trip thanks to over 340 donations on a GoFundMe page set up by Run Anon.
"I got dates yesterday for treatment in England. I have to go over on November 25 to Oxford to get more scans for them to start doing my laser treatment, which will hopefully start on December 12," he added.
"I will be in Oxford for about two weeks to get the treatment done. Initially the tumour was inoperable, but it has shrunk down.
"The doctors explained it as the chemo has killed the tree of the cancer, and now the new medication will help deal with the roots. So I hope this laser will make it peel off the artery so they can operate on it."
Aidan has been active all of his life, with his running complementing his previous jobs as a butcher and binman.
He says being diagnosed with cancer was a "massive shock"
He added: "It has been very difficult to process.
"I have been an active wee man all my life. I have been running all my life, and I was a binman so I was always running behind the lorry.
"I am also a coach at the running club, so it has been a huge part of my life. I have also cycled and done a triathlon. I am always challenging myself.
"This has knocked me back, but I am still running. I booked the Dublin Marathon before Covid struck and I managed to do it about three weeks ago.
"I usually hit just over three hours for a marathon, but this time I didn't care. I got round in 4hrs 52mins. I ran and walked, ran and walked.
"I have booked myself in for next year as well, so fingers crossed I will be clear of cancer and I can get that time down again."
Aidan added: "I did my 250th parkrun a few weeks ago.
"Even when I first got the chemo I was doing the ParkRuns. I ran and walked.
"I usually go to the Antrim parkrun every weekend, and I have tried a few others as well. But 99 per cent of the time I go to Antrim as that's where our club would usually go.
"When I was in hospital, I would go in on a Thursday to get chemo and I would be in there from 8am to 2pm. They would give me six bags of chemo, and then they give me another fusion bottle connected onto me.
"I have that attached to me until Saturday afternoon, so I would be going round the parkrun with a chemo bottle on me. I wasn't doing record breaking times, but I kept going.
"You can't lie down. I was running five and eight miles, and I did the Dublin Marathon. Sometimes people give up too easily.
"I am so lucky I have good friends and family around me too. I can always lift the phone and someone is there to help me. I appreciate it all.
"Running has been a massive source of strength to me. If I didn't have running I would probably have given up.
"I get out there and it puts your head straight. So many people come to our club and it is about the mental benefits, more than the physical ones.
"You also meet new people and start new friendships.
"I have to get up a couple of hours early to get my tablets in me, and I am on morphine in the morning. And when that kicks in I am ready to go.
"I have ran marathons in New York, Boston, London and I even did some running in Oman. Marathon running and running is a huge part of my life."
Aidan helped establish Run Anon eight years ago with the help of Shauna Gibson and Trisha Donnell.
The Crumlin club has raised over £30,000 for various charities over the years, but now it is rallying behind one of its own.
Since the club launched a GoFundMe page five days ago, over £23,000 of donations have flooded in to support Aidan's treatment.
"Our wee club has lifted over £30,000 for charities. It is hard to believe when it comes to your own doorstep," Aidan said.
"We set up the club about eight years ago and we have about 60 members. The girls do a lot of the background work. The three of us keep the club going and it's great.
"I can't believe so much money has been raised. It is overwhelming.
"There are strangers coming up to me to donate money. A fella came up to me at a parkrun last week and gave me £20 for my charity page. It had me crying.
"It is unbelievable. The people just know you through running, and it shows you how close the running family is.
"I will be going on the parkrun this Saturday morning. I will patter along and see how it goes, for a bit of craic."
Anyone wanting to donate to Aidan's fundraising page can do so HERE
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