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The Great Gobi Desert, which dominates over much of Southern Mongolia, is one of the earth's most brutal deserts with extreme temperatures fluctuating between negative 40 degree Celsius in the dead of winter to a sizzling 50 degree Celsius in summer. These grievous conditions are hardly what one would have in mind for an ideal vacation, but for Mr Ellil Mathiyan, a double cancer survivor, it is one he is looking forward to. 

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"I will be 60 next year, so if not now then when? I still have all my faculties about me and I'm fit. And of course, it's for a good cause - raising money for cancer - which is a big part of what I do," said Mr Mathiyan.

Mr Mathiyan has not always been fit and healthy. Prior to his cancer diagnosis, he smoked, drank, was overweight, and generally led an unhealthy lifestyle. He was diagnosed with rectal cancer in 2011 and was originally due to undergo surgery to remove a cancerous tumour along with his rectum. However, during a pre-surgery scan, doctors noticed a lump on the right side of his groin. The doctors were unable to determine if the lump was cancerous but removed it along with his rectum and the cancerous tumour. The surgery was successful, but then came bad news. The lump was malignant.

Concurrently diagnosed with rectal and testicular cancer, Mr Mathiyan felt like he had been dealt with a triple whammy, not only did he have to deal with both rectal and testicular cancer, he also had to live with wearing a permanent stoma bag, an appliance that was connected at the end of his colon to an artificially created opening in his abdomen in order to collect his stool discharge. 

The turning point for Mr Mathiyan came when he discovered cancer support groups which helped him realise that he was not alone. He has since devoted a large portion of his time to helping cancer patients and survivors. Besides being an active volunteer for SCS, he is chairman of the SemiColons Support Group and founded the Ostomy Association of Singapore, a non-profit organisation that also provides support for people with similar conditions. 

Living with a stoma has been challenging, but Mr Mathiyan was determined not to let it prevent him from leading an active lifestyle. Brisk walking, kayaking, dragon-boating, line-dancing, Zumba, several half-marathons, a full-marathon – you name it, he’s done it.

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Come 26 July 2018, Mr Mathiyan, will be taking up his biggest challenge yet. He and a group of 16 individuals made up of cancer survivors, caregivers, and SCS charity athletes, will be braving the brutal climate of the Gobi Desert and trekking a combined 1,700km over 4 days with the aim of raising S$100,000 for SCS.

“I do it because I want people to know that, even with adverse health conditions, they can still lead an active life and live life to the fullest! It’s not the end of life as we know it," says Mr Mathiyan. “I hope this journey will inspire the survivors, and ordinary folks alike, to live full, healthy lives!”

 

To support their cause and journey, visit https://singaporecancersociety.give.asia/campaign/braving_1000km_of_brutal_gobi_climate_for_cancer

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