A Highland sporting hero is taking the biggest gamble of his life – and delaying cancer treatment so he can compete at next year’s Olympics.
Paralympic gold medallist David Smith has been told by doctors that a malignant tumour on his spine has come back.
And he knows that if it grows just a fraction of an inch he will lose his lung function and be left paralysed.
But the 37-year-old athlete from Aviemore has decided to put his life on the line for the next 11 months to chase his dream of cycling for Team Great Britain in Rio.
He revealed: “I am living life with eight millimetres of hope.”
Mr Smith is currently based at the Manchester Velodrome, where he is training with British Cycling.
He described the moment he was told the tumour had returned.
He said: “As I sat in the waiting room to be called in, I knew something wasn’t right then my surgeon Tom Cadoux-Hudson called my name and I knew right away.
“He couldn’t look at me. I walked through that door again and sat down with him. We chatted about sport like always, then I leaned forward and said ‘ok I’m ready’.”
Mr Smith said he then heard the words that would – again – change his life.
He was told “sorry, but the tumour has grown back,” and that it would mean yet more surgery.
“This is the problem with a genetic tumour,” said Mr Smith.
“If the tumour grows it would cut off my cord and I would face losing my lungs and stop breathing along with full paralysis.
“We spoke about options and I asked what is the timeframe we have to play with and can I risk not having surgery while I try to make the Rio team.
“I have decided not to have surgery right now and live my life for the next 11 months, chasing my dream of cycling in Rio.”
Mr Smith posted a moving online message to his supporters – “The race I must win” – and said: “I am determined not to let this beat me.
“Today I did a talk to students in Manchester and for the first time in my life I almost cried during my own talk as it hit me that I am going to go through all this again.
“I am sitting, crying as I write this as all I want to do is have a normal life and do my sport. I am scared that I might never have that. I will beat this tumour.”