Interview: Jay Lynchehaun

“They gave 6-9 months to live and I’m still here”

Carpe Diem, which translated to English would be similar to “seize the day”, is an antique way of life. People, who follow this mentality, seem, to me, slightly arrogant and hypocrite. One more time, Jay Lynchehaun, cancer fighter, charity founder and motor-racing devotee, proves that I was mistaken

Precise as a Swiss Cuckoo-clock, Jay Lynchehaun arrives on time. No minute earlier or later. 11:00am, as it was previously arranged.  As wedding-photographer, part-time graphic designer, ex-mechanic, motor-racing fanatic, charity founder and hopeful fighter, squeezing each second of his life is crucial.

Rigorously on time, the interview takes place on the spacious living room of his country house outside Blackburn.  We urgently need Jay’s advice.  How you manage your time? Is it possible? Does your day have 24 hours like mine? Do hours have 60 minutes for you?  Do the fighter, photographer and graphic designer fit in one person?  How do you plan yourself?

‘Take every day as it comes, I don’t know what I’m going to do in the future’, he gently reveals.

Jay Lynchehaun

Couple years ago, he was working as a mechanic in a local store after specialising in college in vehicle and motoring engineer. As car-addict, he often makes visible his passion.  With a navy jacket, Nurburgring circuit printed on the back, working jeans and stop-sign red Ferrari shoes, he welcomed me to his house.

When, on October 2011, he was enforced to quit his job and lifestyle; he become an unconditional fighter and cancer charity founder. Since then, Jay had to change his habits and mentality.
 The 28-year-old ex-mechanic was diagnosed brain cancer. 

He fortunately realized that he was having some symptoms he couldn't explain. 

At that moment, his tumour was so urgent that he needed immediate surgery.  He naturally explains how they have de-bulked 30% of his brain due to the malicious tumour.                                                                                                                                                             
‘I’m terminal. But they gave 6-9 months to live and I’m still here, two and a half years later’, he declares.

 Life completely changed for Jay. He describes the treatment as an eternal rollercoaster. ‘You are going up and down day after day’. Dealing with drugs is not painless. ‘The food replete of steroids and the strength of the drugs made me more sensible.’                                                                                                    

It is admirable his ambitious for life.  He is a natural fighter. Every minute, second, even split second, it is a continuous battle against cancer. ‘Some days you just don’t want to fight. But there is something inside that keeps you going.’

Jay has never pushed the brakes. He always kept accelerating until he achieved a ‘normal’ life. 

As he was going through cancer-treatment, permanently on bed, he decided to give a radical change to his life. He started exercising with the help of a neck charity.  That was the turning point. Two years later, in January 2013 he started this project: InBetweenEars. It is brain tumour cancer charity which aims to provide personal help and support for patients and to supply the funds for research.

‘I founded the charity mainly for two reasons: Firstly there was no support for young people like me. I didn’t want to attend to support meetings for older generations.’

Lynchehaun confidently believes that cancer, as any other disease, has a cure. This is why a great part of the money raised is destined to cancer research at the University Central of Lancashire.

InBetweenEars ,a North West based  brain tumour charity that organises, through Social Media, family events and days-out with the only purpose of raising money. Managed by his mom Sharon and himself, they were able to connect and aware the local community with this wide disease. 

He describes the ceaseless support of his family as ‘a rock’. ‘Without them I wouldn’t have passed through treatment’.  Due to social media, he is also able to communicate and interact with other people around the world suffering brain cancer.

After 16 months of life, InBetweenEars has claimed for success. Last year, they were able to raise over £5,500, extremely helpful for researches and patients. However, Jay hasn’t crossed the finish line yet.   

‘The best about life is living every day’ he says as he reminded us his Carpe Diem mentality.  ‘I want to live on this earth for a really long time’, he sentences my arguments.