'We wanted to be positive': Leeds family is taking on 26 challenges to support fight against cancer

These are just some of the 26 creative challenges the family and friends of Aiden Blades are taking part in across the year to support him through cancer treatment.

The idea for the challenge began at a Christmas party when Aiden’s father-in-law Daniel and Daniel’s best friend Neil were brainstorming crazy things they could do in the new year to help support Aiden as he undergoes treatment for sarcoma.

They came up with an idea to not just do one challenge but 26, and invited other friends and family to take part too. The family, from Leeds, are also raising money for Sarcoma UK.

Aiden said: “They just wanted to do something positive and proactive.

“It became a really good way to raise awareness about sarcoma while giving everyone a shared goal throughout the year to work towards.”

Daniel and Neil, alongside Aiden’s wife’s uncle Andy and Andy’s son Kieran, will take part in all of the challenges, while other close friends and family will join in with individual events.

The challenges themselves will vary from tough physical feats such as the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon, to fun novelty ideas like a five-a-side fancy dress tournament.

The number 26 marks not only the year 2026 but the age that Aiden was first diagnosed with sarcoma three years ago.

Aiden first went to a doctor when he felt a lump in his side causing him pain while sleeping and backache while working.

It was only after the mass was taken out that doctors discovered the lump was sarcoma, a rare type of cancer that around 5,900 people are diagnosed with each year.

Aiden said: “It all overtook me emotionally and I never expected it to be anything like that.

“Even though the symptoms were pretty bad at my age I think it’s just one of the things you never expect it to be.

“(The doctors) said if I’d have left it six months, then it would have been looking at a whole different story.”

Cancer has not just affected Aiden within his family. In 2024, his mother-in-law Julie was diagnosed with a rare neuroendocrine cancer, while last year his wife’s granddad Chris passed away from bladder cancer. For Aiden and his family, the 26 in 2026 challenge is a chance for his family to focus on something fun.

This year, Aiden has started undergoing six rounds of chemotherapy and his family and friend’s support has been an “extra boost” to help him keep going. He particularly spotlighted how his wife Bryony has stood by his side throughout his treatment.

Aiden said: “She’s been my rock and helped steady me through the toughest few years of my life.”

He hopes that once he is given the all clear, the pair can finally celebrate their honeymoon which was put on hold as Aiden undergoes treatment.

For Aiden it feels “overwhelming” that Bryony alongside his friends and family have chosen to take on 26 challenges to help him “ease the financial burden” that has come with his diagnosis.

Alongside supporting Aiden and funding challenge background costs, Aiden’s family aim to donate 25 per cent of money raised to Sarcoma UK, a charity which has provided Aiden with invaluable support and advice while living with sarcoma.

So far, one out of the 26 challenges has been complete and the fundraiser has already reached more than £1,500, a figure that seems “crazy in the best possible way” to Aiden. However, Aiden wants the challenge to be about more than money, he wants to raise more awareness about cancer too.

He hopes that through sharing his story, more men will find the courage to go to the doctor when they think something is wrong.

Aiden said: “The main message for me especially for a male audience is that we don’t get checked enough. We have a problem and we think it’ll go away.

“If you’ve got something that’s out of the ordinary, just get it checked” - no matter how small it is.

“If I can raise awareness to the point where one person goes and gets checked out and it helps them, then I’ve done my job, I feel like I’ve succeeded.”

You can follow along with the 26 in 2026 challenge by following @26in26forsarcoma on TikTok.

To donate to the 26 in 2026 fundraiser, visit the challenge’s GoFundMe page.