An IT manager from Penkridge, Staffordshire, is preparing to swim with great white sharks in Australia next year as a way to support his mental health after two cancer diagnoses.
Luke Rogers, who works in Wolverhampton, was diagnosed with melanoma and then kidney cancer before turning 35. While recovering from surgery over Christmas, he devised a plan to set himself challenges in 2026, including becoming a qualified diver and swimming with great white sharks.
His four-day expedition is hoped to take place in 2027 at the Neptune Islands, off the southern coast of South Australia, after months of training, exams, and theory lessons. Mr Rogers aims to raise £20,000, which will be equally divided among four cancer charities.
Psychologist Dr Michael Swift, from Birmingham, noted that setting goals after a serious health diagnosis can positively impact mental wellbeing, activating the brain's reward system and helping to improve mood and reduce anxiety.