I'm swimming with sharks to beat the trauma of having cancer twice

When Luke Rogers had a diagnosis of cancer for the second time before turning 35, he was crushed.

After going through his first diagnosis of melanoma while his wife was pregnant, he says the separate diagnosis of kidney cancer came "completely out of the blue".

The IT manager from Penkridge, Staffordshire, says he "couldn't curl up in a ball and let it defeat him".

So, while physically recovering from surgery in his Russells Hall Hospital bed over Christmas, Luke came up with a plan to help his mental health as well.

He decided 2026 would be the year he set himself challenges - and chose to become a qualified diver and swim with great white sharks in Australia.

"There was just something in me that was just like, 'right, you just carry on'. It's a welcome distraction for me. If I put my mind to something, I usually get it done."

His four-day expedition is hoped to take place next year after he completes months of training, exams and theory lessons.

He will travel to the Neptune Islands, a group of remote granite islands off the southern coast of South Australia, where people can cage dive with great white sharks.

The challenge is being sponsored by a company. But ahead of the dive, Luke, who works in Wolverhampton, hopes to raise £20,000 which will be split equally between four different cancer charities.

Work behind the scenes to make the challenge happen is something Luke has described as "all consuming".

"It's a lot, even my relationship with my wife. I'm determined to make sure I hit that target, if not exceed the target."

Experts say setting goals, as Luke has, after a serious health diagnosis, can have a positive impact on mental wellbeing.

Psychologist Dr Michael Swift, from Birmingham, says it "activates a part of your brain that's associated with reward".

"Setting out and doing these challenges will improve mood, reduce anxiety and will also help you with managing the uncertainty about what's happening to you as well."

"It's really common for people who are going through something challenging to want to move their energy and attention on to something that feels really important and meaningful for them," the health psychologist added.

Dr Swift provided some general mental wellbeing tips for people who are going through a similar diagnosis to Luke's:

• A diagnosis takes a lot of energy. Work towards how you can accept part of the difficulties you have been through while also looking forward to the things you find valuable

• What is one small thing a day that can help you move forward to the person you want to be? That can be as small as spending time with your family, it can be learning new skills, reading, learning things you haven't had the opportunity to

• Continuing to move forward in spite of some of the anxiety or those feelings

Luke says he hopes his challenge will inspire others and the money raised can help provide support for those who need it most.

"With everything I've been through, I feel good about it and I just want to continue my journey.

"You just have to keep going, you don't have much choice. I don't think you ever really deal with it, you just learn to live with it."

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