Broadcast News

Tom Buckley was born with eye cancer. At two weeks old he lost the sight in his left eye. For 19 years he led a normal life. However four years ago the cancer returned. Since then 14 tumours have been found throughout his body. Now, aged 23, Tom has been told he will die in less than a year. Doctors say his body can't take any more treatment and the cancer will keep coming back.
The question I get asked most when I tell people I'm a journalist is: "How do you interview someone who has had something terrible happen to them?"
To be honest it's not that difficult. Having heard lots of sad stories, and having spoken to lots of victims or upset relatives, I've learnt to treat each one as a news story. I hope that doesn't sound uncaring because I don't believe I am. But you can't let it affect you otherwise you'd never be able to get the job done.
However every now and then I work on a story and it's impossible not to be moved. Yesterday when I met Tom was one of those occasions.
It wasn't so much the terrible ordeal he has endured that got to me - but his incredible attitude. In a few weeks Tom will be doing the Coast2Coast walk across Britain to raise money for the Christie. It would be a hard slog for anybody healthy but for someone in his condition it's going to be very tough. But he is determined to complete it and I believe he will.
It's an over-used cliche but Tom is a genuine inspiration. He is a level-headed young man who has accepted what's happened to him without a trace of self-pity.
When I got back to the office yesterday I immediately went to his webpage to sponsor him and I urge you to do the same. www.justgiving.com/thebuckers
Every now and then a story really moves you. Journalists are human after all.