Mick helped raise many £1,000s for Star Throwers through his quiz nights at The Green Dragon, and asked that in the event of his death, that Star Throwers were to be his chosen charity for any donations anyone wished to make. Feel free to, or not, he wouldn't mind either way.

After Mick was diagnosed with throat cancer back in 2018, it was with great relief that he was given the all clear. He was even told that it wouldn't return, 'as this type of cancer doesn't return'. So he wasn't monitored, and was left to get on with the rest of his life.

However, towards the end of 2022, he noticed himself getting weaker, and had to give up his job at the Dragon, which he really enjoyed. Worried that his cancer may have returned, he got himself checked out at the GP, who, following blood tests confirmed the good news that his cancer had not returned. But the GPs were concerned that something was amiss so would continue to investigate.

Unfortunately whilst waiting to be collected by a friend to take him to his appointment, he collapsed at the bottom of his stairs. His friend took him to the GP, and they sent him straight to the hospital, where after a couple of scans they confirmed that his cancer had in fact returned, and unfortunately had spread to his lungs, and his brain. 'Sorry', they said.

On the upside he regained his appetite, having lived on protein shakes for most of the last four years, due to complications following his 2019 radiotherapy.

In January this year, he was given a prognosis of 3 months without treatment, or 6-12 with. He opted for treatment, even though it risked losing his appetite, and he really didn't want that to happen. But his treatment worked, his appetite remained, and he was able to enjoy his food again. And he really did enjoy it.

But the prognosis of 6-12 months was about right.

When told there was nothing more they could do for him, and he was too weak to be discharged home to his two flights of stairs, he moved into Sanford House Nursing Home in Dereham where he had his own en-suite room, with direct access to the garden, the fresh air and the sunlight. 

He was visited by many of his friends (although preferably not when the cricket was on, watched on his monster 65" TV), and we made it as normal and homely as we could for him, but he was never going to get better (he would joke that his asthma inhaler made him feel better, but he knew it wasn't going to cure him of brain cancer!).

On the whole he kept his spirits up and made the most of his situation, but physically he continued to deteriorate, and on the morning of Saturday 29th July we got the call to say he had passed away.

Thanks for taking the time to visit Mick's JustGiving page. Their small print follows: 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity