12.39°C Every spring, the Colchester Half Marathon brings thousands of runners into the city. This year, more than 3,000 people took part, and almost £140,000 was raised for the Colchester-based charity The Robin Cancer Trust.
On the day, I had one of the best views, DJing from above the start/finish line. Toby Freeman was moving between runners, volunteers and supporters, making sure everything was running smoothly. It felt more like a city-wide event than just a race.
I met Toby at Three Wise Monkeys to talk about how the charity began, the role Colchester has played in its story, and how something that started with a small fundraiser at V Bar has grown into a national cancer charity.
Toby gestures across the road.
“If you look over there, that’s where it all began,” he says. “That building, what’s now Bees Indian Restaurant, used to be V Bar.”
This year marks fifteen years since Toby’s brother Rob was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of testicular cancer.
“Long story short,” Toby says, “I watched my elder brother, my best friend and my idol go from the prime of his life to holding his hand on his deathbed at St Helena.”
While Rob was ill, Toby was working at V Bar and, with the help of his friends, organised an all-day music fundraiser for the hospital supporting him. After Rob passed away, the family decided they wanted to do something that would last.
“My dad set three rules,” Toby says. “We’re not doing this as a grief reaction. If other charities are already doing something, we’ll support them. And whatever we create has to outlast us.”
That idea became The Robin Cancer Trust. Like many grassroots projects, it began with friends helping where they could.
“You reach out to your mates,” Toby says. “Someone designs a logo, someone builds a website, someone knows bands who will play a gig.”
The first event was another all-day music show. Looking back at the lineup still brings a smile.
“Sam Ryder actually played it,” Toby says. “Which is a brilliant throwback for us.”
At the time, the charity was little more than an idea shared between friends.
“The funny thing was people turned up thinking we had launched a T-shirt brand,” he laughs.
That first event showed them something.
“We realised we had created something people wanted to be part of anyway. Music, community, a good atmosphere. Then there was a charity behind it.”
That approach still shapes the charity today.
“Do things people genuinely want to get involved in,” Toby says. “Then use that to start conversations and raise money.”
At the centre of it all is Rob. Toby describes him as the steady influence in his life.
“Rob was the sensible one. You’ve known me a long time, Ben. I probably wasn’t always the sensible one.”
Where Toby was more outgoing, Rob was calmer and more focused.
“He knew what he wanted from life. Career, family, stability. He was fit, healthy, barely drank, and didn’t smoke.
Meanwhile, I was probably drinking too much.”
Their relationship was built on everyday moments.
“He’d get me to football on a Sunday, pay my subs and even clean my boots.”
One memory still makes Toby smile.
“My dad once said if Rob had half my confidence and I had half his skill, we would both be better footballers.”
Rob’s influence stayed with him long after he died.
“Over the last decade, especially, getting married, having kids, growing up a bit, I feel like I’ve become someone I’m proud of,” Toby says. “Hopefully, I’m someone my brother would be proud of, too.”
Rob himself would probably hate the attention the charity brings.
“He hated photos, hated videos, didn’t want to be the centre of attention,” Toby laughs.
“The fact that we’ve plastered his face everywhere would probably make him cringe. That’s become a family joke.”
Today, The Robin Cancer Trust focuses on raising awareness of testicular, ovarian and germ cell cancers in young adults.
“With testicular cancer, the stigma is still massive,” Toby says. “Embarrassment, not wanting to go to the doctor, toxic masculinity. It’s still there.”
A big part of the charity’s work is creating space for conversations that might otherwise never happen.
“We talk about permission,” he says. “Permission to ask questions and not feel embarrassed.”
Campaigns often use humour as an icebreaker.
“We’re always the butt of the joke,” Toby says. “We’ll stand in a field with giant testicles on our heads if it helps start the conversation.”
The ovarian cancer work highlights a different challenge.
“In many cases, women are going to the doctor and talking about symptoms,” Toby says. “But they’re not always believed.”
Helping people advocate for their own health is an important part of the charity’s work. Sometimes the scale of the charity still surprises him.
Earlier this year, the organisation launched a patient forum where people across the country help shape the charity’s services. It also created a medical advisory board made up of leading clinicians, oncologists and researchers.
In the same month, Toby’s own mum, who has stage three ovarian cancer, was receiving support from the charity’s nurse advisor.
“I just sat there thinking, what have we created?” he says. “You go back to standing in V Bar, giving a shaky speech in front of eighty mates and family. Now it’s this growing organisation that helps people all across the UK.”
In recent years, the charity has taken on organising the Colchester Half Marathon.
The event already had a strong history in the city before The Robin Cancer Trust became involved. Four years ago, the charity stepped in to organise it.
“We took it on with three members of staff,” Toby says.
This year, the race was delivered by a team of nine staff and more than 250 volunteers. The event raised £138,690.
“What I was most proud of was how smoothly it ran,” Toby says. “You saw me on race day. I had no stress because the team around me is incredible.”
The race has become a big day for Colchester.
“I genuinely love this city,” Toby says. “You’ve got the heritage, the landmarks and the people.”
On race day, that atmosphere spreads across the whole route.
“You’ve got choirs singing, DJs playing, kids holding signs, cheer squads forming. Everyone comes together for a few hours and then goes home with that feel-good feeling.”
Even as the charity has grown nationally, Colchester remains at its centre.
Music played a big role in the early days, including the Mayday Mayhem that many of us will remember. Over the years, artists, venues and promoters across the city have supported the charity, including Colchester Arts Centre, Three Wise Monkeys, Roots & Grooves, Dice & a Slice, Coda, and so many more.
“You never forget where you come from,” Toby says. “Colchester supported us from the start.”
That connection continues with a Robin Cancer Trust benefit gig at Three Wise Monkeys on Friday 5th June featuring Lost Movies, Fat Pigeon, X-Kaminski and Flabba.
For Toby, the message behind everything the charity does remains simple.
“Listen to your body,” he says. “Understand what’s normal for you and take action if something doesn’t feel right.”
Find out more at robincancertrust.org or follow @RCTCharity on social media.
