13/03/2026
Rawda's story
In early 2023, I was diagnosed with bowel cancer. On 2nd March, I underwent surgery at the Churchill Hospital, followed by several months of anti-cancer treatments. The care I received from the teams at the John Radcliffe and Churchill Hospitals was outstanding—compassionate, expert, and deeply human. I’m forever grateful to each of them for their dedication to my recovery.
Unfortunately, I experienced severe side effects from the treatment. One of the more unusual and distressing symptoms was a heightened sensitivity to metal—any contact felt like an electric shock. This even affected my breathing and throat. It meant I had to avoid everyday metal objects like cutlery and door handles, a challenge that made me realise how much we rely on metal in our daily lives, including in fitness equipment.
Before my diagnosis, fitness was a central part of my life. I trained 3–5 times a week—both independently and with my coach, Darren Shepherd-Loxton, at his gym in Didcot. I even trained the night before my surgery. Thanks to Darren’s encouragement and creativity, I began light training from home just one week into recovery, using a chair and my own body weight to start. As I regained strength, I wanted to return to the gym, but needed to avoid metal-based equipment due to the risk of shock.
That’s when we discovered the MAG Grip range—a revolutionary line of fitness handles with a special non-metallic coating that allowed me to train safely. To my surprise and relief, I had no adverse reactions. The MAG team were incredibly supportive when they heard my story, offering encouragement and even a discount when I ordered new equipment. Their generosity touched me deeply.
As Mayor of Abingdon, I’ve chosen to share this journey publicly—not only to raise awareness of bowel cancer and the challenges of recovery, but also to support a brilliant local charity: Octopus Oxford, which helps cancer patients navigate practical and emotional challenges.
To that end, my coach Darren and I have created a Charity Training Challenge:
10 x 10 x 10 at 60% Body Weight
Ten MAG handles x ten repetitions × ten rounds each MAG handle that is total of 1000.00 reps.
