“I WILL get through this, it’s easy, no problem,” says Bill Cassidy.

Conscious of the battle ahead and with his wife, Nicola, by his side as he received his throat cancer diagnosis, the 59-year-old was determined this would be a fight he would win.

His symptoms weren’t specific other than tiredness and Bill recalls a comment had been passed that his voice had altered.

According to the NHS, there are around 2,400 new cases of laryngeal cancer in the UK.

Main symptoms include voice change such as sounding hoarse; pain when swallowing or difficulty swallowing; a lump or swelling in the neck; a long-lasting cough; a persistent sore throat or earache and, in severe cases, difficulty breathing.

Following the tests which revealed the diagnosis, Bill underwent a five and a half hour operation in June last year during which some of his vocal chords were removed.

Since then he has been going to the hospital for regular check-ups and it was through meeting others who were facing their own battle with the disease that prompted Bill to set up his own fundraiser.

“I met quite a few people while in hospital, young kids and people who basically had weeks to live. I was one of the lucky ones,” says Bill, from Bradford.

“I decided I wanted to give something back and would try to do something which is why I thought about Candlelighters and Marie Curie,” he says, referring to the children’s cancer charity and Marie Curie which supports people living with terminal illness.

The father-of-three pondered what he could do to raise money for the charities. He’d always been fit and active, playing football and had also been involved with junior cricket for more than a decade at East Bierley Cricket Club. Coaching, umpiring and scoring were among his roles before he retired due to his ill health.

He decided to do a 10 mile walk around local cricket clubs. Setting off from East Bierley, where supporters opened the tea bar early morning to serve bacon and sausage sandwiches - food kindly donated by the Coop store in Bradford Road, Birkenshaw where charity buckets were also put out for people to help boost Bill’s fundraising efforts - Bill and his 39 supporters strolled on, stopping off at cricket clubs including Gomersal and Spen Victoria in Spen Lane.

Sporting t-shirts generously donated by Rand & Asquith, and supported by many others along the way including Joanne Brooke and Ray Davis, East Bierley cricket club chairman, Bill completed the walk, raising £5,700 to support Marie Curie and Candlelighters in the vital work they do.

But he knows he couldn’t have done it without his supporters: “They were absolutely fantastic throughout the day,” says Bill, who hopes sharing his experience will help others in similar circumstances.

“I think about other people in the same position and if there is anything I can do to inspire them I will do it,” says Bill.

Aanika Dhillon, community fundraiser Calderdale and Bradford South & West Marie Curie, says: ‘It is only because of the generous efforts of people like Bill and the community he has around him that we are able to provide our care free of charge for those who need us.

“Bill’s idea for a sponsored walk is a brilliant way of helping us to do this, and more than that has brought communities together to make a valuable difference to the lives of those around them.’

Gina Trotter, community fundraiser for Candlelighters the charity which offers financial, emotional and practical support for families across Yorkshire who are affected by children’s cancer, says: “Bill has done a wonderful job with his fundraising, he really has gone above and beyond by constantly thinking of extra ways to raise that little bit more.

“Bill has engaged the entire community and cricket clubs in the area which is greatly inspiring; everyone at Candlelighters are so very grateful for all his hard work.

“Without people like Bill we would be unable to continue to support children and families across Yorkshire who are affected by children’s cancer.

“Sadly, on average 150 families receive that unbearable diagnosis every year, and Candlelighters are there from the beginning to make their time that little bit more bearable.”

For more information about Candlelighters and Marie Curie visit candlelighters.org.uk or Marie Curie visit mariecurie.org.uk.