This year I am doing The Mighty Hike in Bamburgh in memory of my dad (Pa) Paul ‘Fergie’ Ferguson who died of Peritoneal Cancer on 21st August 2020, aged just 59, the day before his 60th birthday and my wonderful mum, Mary Ferguson who died aged just 37 (the age I am now) from Breast Cancer in 1998 when I was 14. Both of them had an extremely short time with cancer as they both died within a few months of diagnosis. 

Words can’t describe how shocking it was last year when my dad was diagnosed and how devastating it was. We are still coming to terms with it now. 

Pa was a wonderful man; a fireman,  a marine, a tutor who trained firefighting to students from all around the world was respected by everyone he met. He had absolute integrity and class in everything he did; old fashioned values and the most reliable person I will ever know. His life’s passion was Northern Soul music and used to play his music none stop on our drives to Bamburgh as kids so we would learn all the words. So many happy memories from Northumberland and those sand dunes. 

Mum was beautiful and stylish, always impeccably dressed, kind hearted and loving with a rebellious streak. She worked SO hard to give us a great life and loved us all so much. We are truly lucky to have had such brilliant parents.

It seemed so cruel that after he looked after my mum so gracefully during her cancer battle and brought up three children alone when she died that the same illness would take him too soon. Cancer doesn’t discriminate and it doesn’t do ‘fair’. 

It has been completely life changing, incredibly sad and so surreal losing both parents to cancer, especially as they were both young but in particular losing dad during a global pandemic and seeing first hand how Covid impacted the way my dad was looked after and opportunities missed to help him.

The people that really did support him and my mum  (and many other family members who gave unfortunately had cancer) were Macmillan even in their very short battle. Macmillan truly reassure and make a REAL practical  difference to the whole family at an extremely tough time. They helped with everything from special chairs and beds to make him more comfortable to checking in on him to talking to him about finances and what to expect. What a thoroughly wonderful job. I hope soon there is a cure for cancer and that families will no longer have to go through the trauma it brings but in the meantime for anyone who has it and their family and friends it is of the upmost importance to have the amazing Macmillan nurses by their side.

Macmillan Cancer Support is here to help everyone with cancer live life as fully as they can, providing physical, financial and emotional support. So whatever cancer throws your way, we’re right right there with you.Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them 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.