“It’s the people here that make it.” – Nick O’Donnell’s Story
In 2016, Nick O’Donnell’s life took an unexpected turn when his wife spotted a strange black mole on his stomach. After insisting he get it checked with his GP, Nick, a fleet planning engineer for British Airways, was diagnosed with skin cancer.
Nick had surgery to remove the melanoma, but in 2022, after five years of being cancer-free, he noticed a lump under his armpit which he had checked by his GP. After having investigative surgery, Nick’s worst fears were confirmed when he received the devastating news that the cancer had returned in five of his lymph nodes and was now Stage 4, having also spread to his lungs. Nick was referred straight to Velindre where he met his oncologist, Dr Ricky Frazer. Ricky gave Nick the news that the cancer was aggressive and quickly arranged for Nick to begin immunotherapy treatment.
After one round of immunotherapy, Nick’s CT scan showed a remarkable reduction in the cancer. Nick received two more doses of immunotherapy, before the third dose resulted in him being hospitalised with complications. After his third dose and recovery, Nick met with Ricky again. Although Nick feared the worst, Ricky shared the incredible news that the immunotherapy treatment had worked and Nick no longer had any evidence of disease. The exceptional care and service Nick received from Ricky and his Clinical Nurse Specialist, Michelle, left a lasting impression on him. He praises the unwavering support of both Ricky and Michelle, who helped him through his treatment.
Speaking about the Clinical Nurse Specialist role, Nick said: “[Michelle] helped me with everything. Having one consistent person to rely on was incredible.”
Nick also praised the communication behind the scenes between the Clinical Nurse Specialists and the toxicity teams, commenting that he never had to chase for answers because they were always already discussing his treatment and care.
Nick still visits Velindre for regular scans but has been living cancer-free since 2022.
Nick said: “Currently, there is no evidence of disease in my lungs, which I’m so grateful for. The immunotherapy has worked really well, and I’m just enjoying life as much as I can with my family. I want to see my grandkids grow up so I’ll take all the treatment I can get to keep being cancer-free.”
Nick’s fundraising
After experiencing first hand the exceptional care and treatment at Velindre, Nick made it his mission to give back to the hospital that saved his life, ensuring others benefit from the same support and care he received. Nick also supports others facing their own cancer journeys and takes part in regular melanoma support groups at Maggie’s, on site at Velindre Cancer Centre, and offers hope and advice about his own experience to others through online groups.
Despite the lingering fatigue Nick experiences, he hasn’t let cancer slow him down. He continues to take part in incredible fundraising activities for Velindre—proving that cancer hasn’t stopped him from living and enjoying life! Last year, Nick and fellow triathletes from David Lloyds took part in Jiffy’s Cancer 50 Challenge, a mammoth 50-mile bike ride from Cardiff to Swansea Bay. Nick also plans to take part in Jiffy’s event again this year, as well as the Cardiff to Tenby CARTEN100 event, bringing even bigger teams from David Lloyds along for the ride.
Nick said: “Everybody has been touched by cancer in some way. That’s why fundraising is so important, and nobody understands its importance more than those who have been through the process themselves.”
Looking to the future
Through his cancer journey and fundraising, Nick says his biggest motivator has been his family, especially his grandchildren, aged 2, 9 and 13.
Nick said they gave him the drive to fight his disease so he could see them grow up and enjoy life’s milestones with them.
Velindre has become a place that is special to Nick’s whole family. His daughter Chloe, a quality engineer at CAF Rail, is following in his fundraising footsteps with her company nominating Velindre Cancer Charity as their 2025 Charity of the Year!
The difference you make
Speaking about what Velindre means to him, Nick shared: “Everyone is lovely, from the cleaners to the catering staff, to the oncologists. I can’t speak highly enough of Velindre—it’s the people here that make it.”
With the support of fundraising and donations, we can continue funding staff roles that make a real difference to the experience and outcomes of our patients and families. We can fund roles like our Clinical Nurse Specialists, who Nick relied on during his treatment. Our dedicated Clinical Nurse Specialists provide an invaluable resource for patients during their cancer journey—offering clinical and compassionate care, but also driving innovation, service improvements and effective multidisciplinary communication across teams. Alongside their in-depth clinical knowledge, they look at the bigger picture of patient care, identifying any issues that patients may be having beyond their treatment and advocating for their needs.
Cancer treatment can be an incredibly overwhelming experience, but Velindre’s Clinical Nurse Specialists act as a single point of contact for patients, often guiding them through their entire cancer pathway.
Nick believes Velindre is a hospital like no other. He shared:
“This place means the world to me. Even if the money I raise pays for just one person’s scan, that’s something. If everybody gave a little bit, it would build up to a lot. They saved my life here, so I’ll always give back anything I can.”
