MATT Robins was just 25 when he was diagnosed with Stage 4 liver cancer just before Christmas in 2023.

“It was a lot to take in and it brought back memories of what my mum went through,” said Matt.

His mum, Gillian, was 37 when cancer took her life. Matt and his sister were still at primary school in Chulmleigh.

Matt is on a course of targeted chemotherapy, something that was unavailable to his mum. His family had been told to prepare for the worst as the cancer was affecting up to 70 per cent of his liver but that has been reduced by a half.

Despite the brutal nature of his treatment, he is determined to make new memories and seize as many opportunities as he can.

Top of his list was a wedding, partner Liv arranging it inside 10 weeks!

“She organised everything – I just let her loose on it. I was a bit of a mushroom, left in the dark. I knew the date and the time but she took all the stress away and bore it all on her shoulders. It was amazing that she did that,” said Matt with so much emotion in his voice.

The devoted couple have since visited the Italian city of Florence and Morzine in the French Alps among other places.

Matt is a quantity surveyor in the construction industry.

He has found the loss of independence a challenge, almost as difficult to cope with as the diagnosis itself, going from working and being financially independent to having to rely on others.

“There’s a lot of misconception that its more senior people who are battling cancer but increasingly, younger people are being diagnosed,” said Matt, who grew up in Chulmleigh but now lives with his wife’s family in Silverton.

“It was quite tough to move away from my friends and my social network but I need the support of my partner and to be closer to the hospital,” he said.

Matt also lost his grandmother to cancer and admits he was expecting to get a diagnosis himself at some point in his life. When it came, it was almost a relief.

“It was always in the back of my mind that I might develop it. I didn’t want the diagnosis but in a funny sort of way it was like getting a monkey off my back. There was a weird sense of relief that I didn’t have the fear of what might happen after what mum went through. I could finally face my demons with an understanding. The memories made me even more determined and to value life a bit more and do all the things I wanted to do. Cancer gives you a different perspective,” he said.

FORCE Cancer Charity, which offers free support to people in Devon affected by cancer, provided Matt with a haven and the help he needed to come to terms with his diagnosis.

“FORCE filled me with confidence, especially with the services on offer. I’m having counselling and I’ve found it so beneficial. The family are understanding but sometimes you can go to a counsellor and say what’s on your mind, put the world to rights and they understand. You don’t have to hold back. You can let it all go,” he said.

Liv has also had counselling and complementary therapy and Matt used FORCE’s specialist oncology physiotherapy service, which led to him enlisting on an exercise programme with Mid Devon Leisure in Tiverton.

He loves being able to use the FORCE Support and Information Centre in the grounds of the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital as a haven away from the harshness of his treatment regime and decided this summer that he wanted to do something in return.

He organised a golf day to support FORCE as a thank you for the support he has received from the charity, which receives no NHS or Government funding.

FORCE volunteers Phil and Karen Povey, parents of Matt’s schoolfriend Jack, helped out at the event at Chulmleigh Golf Course.

It raised £1,385.50 as 18 teams of four, including Matt’s friends from golf, rugby, football and school enjoyed a great day.

“The golf club was buzzing, everyone had a great time and I was chuffed that people enjoyed it,” said Matt, who also donated £844 to FORCE from a quiz held in Chulmleigh.

“FORCE is a really good charity, approachable, easy to contact, a shoulder when you need it. It’s always there. I really appreciate that they support research and buy equipment. That’s why I wanted to raise some money, to give something back.”