Being a five-time World Masters Track Cycling champion, 73-year-old Colin Claxton is healthy and fit but when the bowel screening test came in the mail, he knew he had a promise to keep.

 “My son-in-law was only 34 when he was diagnosed with bowel cancer and sadly didn’t live to raise his two boys, who were two and four when he was diagnosed. Part of my mission in life is to keep their dad’s memory alive,” Colin says.

 “When a good cycling friend was diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer, he looked me square in the eye and said ‘you promised your son-in-law you would get screened. Now you must promise me’.”

 Soon after doing the bowel screening test, Colin was notified that his test was positive. He was referred for a colonoscopy, which showed he had a couple of internal haemorrhoids, as well as diverticula – a condition in which small, bulging pouches develop in the digestive tract. Thankfully, there was no cancer.

 “I expected the worst and hoped for the best. It was such a relief.” Colin encourages everyone in the community who receives the bowel screening test to do it – even it if it is just for peace of mind.