A teacher was handed a devastated cancer diagnosis just weeks before he was meant to start his new dream job aboard.

Ciaran Fredericks, who has taught at The Hundred of Hoo Academy for six years, had landed a role as head of PE at a school in Dubai.

The 28-year-old was due to start the new position at the beginning of September, but instead was told he had stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma.

For months Ciaran, from Rochester, ignored the signs.

Exhaustion, night sweats and chest pains were dismissed as the result of long hours, endless marking and the natural demands of teaching and coaching.

But one day in July the PE teacher collapsed with pain across his chest and his family called an ambulance believing he was having a heart attack.

A CT scan, however, revealed a 12cm by 9cm tumour pressing against his heart and lung.

Doctors at Medway Maritime Hospital confirmed it was stage 4 Hodgkin Lymphoma, a type of cancer that has spread to at least one organ outside of the lymphatic system, such as the liver, lungs or bone marrow.

It was devastating for Ciaran, who was immediately admitted for chemotherapy at Macmillan Cancer Care’s Galton Day Unit and Lawrence Ward at the Gillingham hospital.

“Staff there are fantastic,” he said.

“I have 24-hour care and I am very grateful for the support.”

Despite the setback Ciaran is determined to stay positive and focus on getting better.

“In my head I have to think I’m going to get better,” he added. “I have to stay optimistic.”

By his side throughout his ordeal has been his mother Ann, who has attended every hospital appointment and, last month, raised £2,500 for Cancer Research UK by taking part in a charity walk.

Relatives in Ireland have sent messages, cards and hampers, and members of High Halstow Cricket Club, where he has spent years coaching juniors, have also been getting behind him.

On Sunday they filled the chairs at the Constantine The Great barber’s shop in Rochester High Street and had their heads shaved in solidarity with Ciaran, raising another £1,000 in the process.

“My barbers don’t normally open on Sundays, but they opened just for that,” Ciaran said. “And they didn’t take a penny. It was really special seeing everyone come together.”

Ciaran’s work colleague Joseph Carter-Mills, from The Hundred of Hoo Academy, is preparing for a marathon walk on October 25 in support of his friend.

He will cover 26.2 miles in full cricket gear, starting at the academy and walking to High Halstow Cricket Club before returning to the school.

To view the fundraiser, visit tinyurl.com/JosephCricket

Donations will go towards the PE department and the cricket club which have both rallied behind Ciaran during his illness.

Another former pupil, Makenzie Porter, is taking on a marathon of golf – four rounds in a day – at Rochester and Cobham Golf Club on Tuesday.

To support his efforts, visit tinyurl.com/MakenzieGolf

Among family, friends and former students, more than £5,000 has been raised for Macmillan, Cancer Research and High Halstow Cricket Club and Hundred of Hoo’s PE department.

Ciaran says the support has been extraordinary, adding it’s his belief that “if you give a lot to people, then when you need it, they’ll give it back”.

Despite his gruelling treatment, he still finds ways to teach, motivate and raise awareness about his condition. Through his Instagram page, PE vs Cancer, he is encouraging others not to ignore symptoms as he once did.

“I kept putting it off,” he admitted. “But if you have night sweats, chest pain or breathlessness, get it checked.I’d rather it was me than someone without support. When you’re on the ward you see people going through this on their own, and that’s tough.”

Ciaran’s ambition to travel and teach aboard remains undimmed and he hopes to realise those plans once he completes his treatment.

“I’d like to go to Dubai one day, maybe even Australia,” he said. “I want to show pupils that if you work hard you can travel the world.”