After losing his brother Robin to a rare form of testicular cancer at just 24, Toby Freeman wanted to make sure no other families would suffer the same fate. He turned the personal tragedy he and his family faced into a national project, building a movement that has saved lives through education, awareness and advocacy.
Robin was diagnosed in the prime of his life in 2011 with a Mediastinal Germ Cell Tumour (a grapefruit-sized tumour in his chest). Following 10 months of treatment, including several rounds of chemotherapy and a stem-cell transplant, he was told there was nothing else his medical team could do. He passed away surrounded by his loved ones in December 2011.
Turning Pain into Purpose
Toby knew the key to reaching young people with awareness around testicular cancer and other germ cell cancers was tackling these difficult topics in big and bold ways. Since founding The Robin Cancer Trust in 2012, Toby and his team have worked hard to raise awareness, reduce embarrassment and save young lives through the early detection of germ cell cancers.
The charity has reached tens of millions of young people online, engaged with hundreds of thousands of people in the community and delivered life-saving education talks to over 100,000 young adults in schools, colleges and businesses across the UK.
Breaking Taboos and Starting Conversations
Talking openly about men’s health, especially something as personal as testicular cancer, is not always easy. Toby quickly realised the power of humour and bold imagery in breaking down barriers. Campaigns featuring giant inflatable testicles, cheeky slogans and eye-catching stunts are not just gimmicks; they start conversations. In those conversations, awareness spreads, embarrassment drops, and lives are saved through earlier detection.
Over the years, The Robin Cancer Trust has built partnerships with schools, sports clubs, universities and workplaces, making germ-cell cancer education part of everyday life. Their workshops mix medical information with real stories, paired with a bit of fun to get a younger audience engaged, ultimately helping young people see the reality behind the statistics and understand the importance of checking themselves regularly.
Toby has taken on a number of tough challenges, pushing his body to new limits, putting himself out there in all sorts of situations, all to raise awareness and funds for life-saving work and support for people with cancer. In recent years, the team have attempted Guinness World Records, numerous walks and runs and Toby’s own Big Ballsy Challenge.
In 2025, Toby began to take on a bold challenge, running 350 miles in a giant testicle costume to raise £240,000 for the charity to deliver their lifesaving workshops. This year he’s already run the Brighton and London Marathons, run the length of Hadrian’s Wall, undertaken a number of 10k races and has more challenges to undertake this year.
The costume itself is no small feat. Heavy, hot and attention-grabbing, it ensures that no one can ignore the message he’s carrying with him. By sparking laughter, curiosity and conversation, it becomes a tool for education. People stop, ask questions, and in doing so, they learn something that could one day save their life, or the life of someone they love.
Making Fundraising Stretch Further
These creative fundraising efforts are what is needed to cut through the noise and a ctually reach people. It’s no secret that charities across the UK are feeling the pinch. The latest CAF UK Giving Report shows total donations rose to a record £15.4–£15.5 billion in 2024, but the number of donors fell from 58% in 2019 to just 50% last year, that’s four million fewer people giving money. The drop is even more severe among 16-24-year-olds, down from 52% to 36%.
Meanwhile, over half of charities report sharply rising demand for services, and 57% say fundraising has become harder, with many forced to cut salaries, shrink offices or freeze benefits just to survive.
This financial squeeze, and the fact that fewer people are donating, have only strengthened Toby and his team’s resolve to fundraise smarter and more creatively. From innovative online campaigns to community partnerships, the Robin Cancer Trust is working harder than ever to stand out, capture attention and keep vital education going.
Inspired to Keep Going
What stands out most about Toby is his determination. He openly shares that grief never disappears, but it can be turned into something powerful. Every campaign, every school visit, every podcast episode recorded, every challenge taken on in that costume is another way of honouring Robin and making good on the promise Toby made to him.
The Robin Cancer Trust has become more than a charity. It’s a community of people, families, friends, survivors, and supporters, all brought together by a shared mission. Its growth over the last decade shows the difference that one family’s promise can make when carried forward with resilience and creativity.
Robin’s family promised him that “he would never just be a photograph on the wall” and that something good would be born from the loss of him. Robin continues to inspire Toby and the whole Robin Cancer Trust team to raise awareness, reduce embarrassment and save young lives.
Toby Freeman is a purpose-driven changemaker, speaker, and founder of The Robin Cancer Trust, the UK’s leading testicular cancer charity. Host of the Thrive Against Cancer podcast, he gives a voice to the cancer community, sharing raw, honest stories from patients, caregivers, and clinicians.
