In the valleys of Blaenau Gwent is a man who has become recognisable to many in the area.
Making his name on the weekends in rings across the country, Brendan White of Blaina has earned a reputation over the past few years as one of the toughest men on the UK's professional wrestling scene.
And while you might find him regularly slugging it out in front of hundreds of fans in packed-out venues, or jumping off 10 foot ladders in high-flying stunts, for Brendan, 33, he says it all pales in comparison to the hardest fight of his life in overcoming cancer.
Now as he prepares to open his own wrestling training academy in south Wales, the man known to his fans as Bronco is sharing his story in the hopes of inspiring others to chase their dreams.
You can read more of our stories from Blaenau Gwent here
Born and bred in Blaenau Gwent, Brendan, who also works a full-time job as an insurance worker, smiles as he reminisces on his journey into the world of wrestling, and simply sums it up by saying it's been one hell of ride.
He said: "I had always loved wrestling growing up, and just like many other kids I started off watching the WWE at home and pretending to be a wrestler with my brothers.
"A little later I met some friends in school, guys such as WWE Superstars 'Wild Boar' Mike Hitchman and Flash Morgan Webster and we just started to wrestle and do our own thing using makeshift rings in back gardens around Blaenau Gwent.
"It was great but even though I loved it I never really thought I had a chance at making a career out of it myself, and foolishly I had always held myself back for that reason.
"I played youth rugby for my local team up in Brynmawr which I loved as well, and even earned a degree at Swansea University but there was always this thing nagging me in the back of my head that I wasn't doing what I was really passionate about, and for me that was wrestling.
"That all changed in 2015 when I was diagnosed with testicular cancer as my life was completely turned upside down in a way that forced me to re-evaluate what I wanted to do.
"Waking up in the hospital after my operation I can just remember thinking to myself, 'if this is it for me have I achieved what I wanted to with my life', and the answer at that point was no. From there on I knew I had to chase this passion no matter what, and as soon as I started to recover I began my training in professional wrestling and never looked back."
Now a full-time wrestler, Brendan has made his way to becoming one of the most recognisable figures on the independent wrestling scene in the UK over the past few years, even earning himself the title of All Wales Champion in 2020 and gaining hundreds of British fans in the process.
However he says it was his battle with cancer that ultimately led him back on the path to chasing his long-term goal.
He said: "I'd just ran the Edinburgh marathon and had a pain which I had been putting to the back of my mind. I think for a lot of men it's not always easy to go and get themselves checked for things like that so I'd avoided going for a while, but after persuasion from friends and family I finally went to the doctors.
"Obviously getting the result of the ultrasound was a total shock, but it was also something that put things into perspective for me. If I had continued to ignore the pains I might not be here today, and that's why it's so important to me to spread that message to others that you have to get yourself checked no matter what body part it is.
"It saved my life and not only did that put me on a path to recovery physically, but now I'm in a place where I'm living my dream of being a wrestler and I couldn't be happier. When I had my first professional wrestling match in Newport around a year after the operation I can just remember having this amazing feeling, it was honestly like I'd never felt so alive, and the buzz it gives you to perform in the ring in front of so many people is one that still pushes me to this day.
"I still have a lot I want to achieve in my career but I'm lucky to be at the stage now where I can start to look at doing this full time. Mostly I just love performing and doing what I'm doing though, and I can't help but feel the sky is the limit for me now."
And Liverpool football fanatic Brendan will also be looking to give back to the wrestling community of south Wales this year as he prepares to open his own training academy in Cathays Community Centre, Cardiff, where he will be teaching the next generation of Welsh wrestling superstars their trade.
"It's just a great way for me to give back to people in the area, and with there being such a popular wrestling scene in Wales at the moment I can't wait to get started," he said.
"It took a bit of a hit with the pandemic but it's still going strong and the academy will only solidify that for the future of wrestling in this area. We're planning to launch early in March and with the world class wrestlers and coaches we have working there we will be able to offer some amazing training to our students at all levels.
"It's not just for people who actively want to be wrestlers themselves either, as many will just want to come for the fitness side of it and that's great. I'm very eager to pass along the knowledge I've learned over the last few years, and I can't wait to push myself and others to be the best they can be."
You can stay updated on Brendan's latest shows, and announcements of the coming wrestling academy here.
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