As the clock approached midnight on New Year’s Eve 2020 to herald in the new year, Tenby’s Nicky Lloyd suggested to his family that 2021 could surely only be better than the unprecedented year of the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, on Tuesday, January 5, Nicky received the unwelcome news that a scan he had undergone in December had detected a tumour on his right kidney and, in an instant, Nicky’s 2021 began to very much prove to be a whole lot worse than 2020.

Within three weeks, Nicky was on the operating table in Prince Philip Hospital, Llanelli, undergoing a six-and-a-half-hour operation to remove his kidney and the offending cancerous tumour.

Nicky said: “When I used to see adverts for cancer charities in which patients are advised that they had cancer, I did occasionally consider how I would respond if it should ever be me receiving such news!

“The truth is I didn’t feel sad or upset, I just felt numb! So, if there is one message I can offer, ‘It is ok, initially, to feel nothing’!”

Due to Covid restrictions, Nicky had to travel to Glangwili alone, so after the diagnosis he remarked: “I simply sat in my car worrying about telling my loved ones.

“I experienced feelings of guilt for not breaking down or crying, although a little bit of that would follow, sure enough, when I did tell my loved ones! Throughout it all, though, I was grateful that it was me and not any of my family or friends.”

Fast forward four-and-a-half weeks to March 1, 2021, and Nicky began a 10,000 steps a day walk, for every one of the 31 days in March to raise funds for Cancer Research UK.

Nicky wants to ‘Give Back’ by raising as much as he can for this dedicated and innovative charity and he has also agreed to take part in further clinical trials because, as Nicky said: “Any way in which I can express my gratitude and thanks for everything my consultant and his team and all the staff on Ward 7 in the Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli have done for me...then put me up for it!”

Nicky’s ‘Just Giving’ fundraiser has so far reached just over £1,400 over his £2,000 target.

If you would like to support Nicky’s efforts to raise funds for Cancer Research UK you can do so at his Just Giving page via Nicky’s Facebook page or by copying the link below into your search field.