Thank you for visiting my sponsor page,

If you are visiting this page most of you will already know that I lost my dad this year. On the 4th February 2008 my father lost his 6 month battle to Secondary Liver Cancer.

If you have time to read this I would like to tell you his story, if you don't then a donation will be just as good!

My father found out he had cancer in September 2007 I found out on the 18th, which was my birthday. We did not find out it was secondary Liver Cancer until the October, the doctors could not identify where the primary tumour was.

The news was devastating my father wasn't even registered with a GP he had never been ill before. He was told the cancer was terminal but that he could have Chemotherapy, which may or may not help. The doctors said it was unlikely the Chemo would work dueto the agressive nature of this type of cancer..

However being a gambling man my dad decided to take the chance. He was very brave and went through two lots of Chemo. My dad was a fighter and there was no way he was going to take this lying down. Unfortunately the chemo really knocked the wind out of his sails and probably took him within an inch of his life. I was living in Kent but travelled every week to visit him, each time I saw him getting thinner and weaker.

After the second lot of chemo the doctors told him that he could not have anymore as he was not strong enough. They said if he could build himself back up they would reconsider.

The photo on the left was taken on New Years Eve; we had spent a wonderful Christmas together. On Boxing Day my dad announced to the family that he was going to marry his partner of 10 years, Karen. We were so happy for them yet so sad at the same time.

The wedding was planned for Saturday 2nd February and it was going to take place at the Ritz Hotel in London. This was a favourite haunt of my dad's he visited the casino there most weekends!

On the 31st January my dad was admitted to the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice in Farnham. The doctors told my father that if he wanted to get married he should do it that evening because he didn't have long. On that Thursday evening my dad and Karen got married in the small chapel inside the hospice. There were only a handful of people present, the staff had lit candles, and my dad was dressed in a dressing gown and sat in a wheel chair. Karen was in a jumper and jeans. But it was so romantic, everyone cried during the 20 minute service. Me, my brother and sister sat and held hands.

On the Friday he seemed to improve, he even got out of bed and did a lap around the waiting room with the nurses trying to keep up with him. I remember sitting there thinking how unbelievable he was.

By the Saturday his condition had deteriorated. This was the day he was supposed to get married, he hadn't cancelled the reception and hoped that he would be fit enough to go. Discussions took placed all day but at every stage he was saying that he was going. Me, my brother and Sister supported his decision....everyone deserves a final wish.

At 3pm that afternoon he'd made up his mind and started ordering people to get ready. Most of the family left the hospice to get ready and start making their way to London. I remained with Karen by my dad’s side. Karen's face was stained with tears where she had been crying for the last three days, she had stayed with him in the hospice, never leaving his side. My dad was in his suit sat in a wheel chair when Karen emerged from the toilet in her wedding dress that she hadn't worn. I wish I'd had a camera my dad's face lit up and he had the biggest smile on his face.

I stayed with him until he was safely in the car that had come to collect him. Karen sat in the front in her dress and the Nurse from the hospice sat in the back to assist my dad. I was in tears and help my dad's hand and said goodbye, I gave him the picture of his mother to hold for the journey. I thought this was going to be the last time I saw him, the doctors did not think he would make the journey. He told me that he loved me and he would see me there.

Because there was no room in the car I had to get a lift with my auntie, which meant I had 10 mins to get ready.....I made it and we were on our way to London.

I felt sick all the way up there, not knowing if he would make it. When we arrived I was relieved to find that they had made it and were in the room upstairs with my brother and sister getting ready.

Downstairs there was a room full of 50 people all family and friends. The were seated on round tables with white table clothes and Gold flowers, it looked amazing.

My dad's best man Collin made an emotional speech and then welcomed my dad and Karen into the room. Everyone stood and applauded as my dad was wheeled into the room by my brother and Karen walked next to him in her wedding dress. My dad smiled and waved at everyone as he was wheeled past to his table. The only way I could describe it is like a scene from titanic at the end when Leonardo and Kate winslet are walking down the stairs.

The whole night was extremely emotional there wasn't a dry eye in the house before he left that night he managed to win £12,000 on the roulette.

I was so proud of him and everything he had achieved it was the best and the worst evening rolled into one. But I knew deep down that would be the last time I would speak to him.

Against all the odds he made it back to the hospice, Karen informed us that when he got back he counted his chips he had one before falling asleep.

The next day he had slipped into a coma. The waiting room was taken over by our large family everyone taking it in turns to go in and talk to him.

He hung on until Monday morning. Me, my brother, sister and Karen stood round him my brother read his best man speech that he hadn't been able to say at their wedding. We knew it was time for him to leave us, and not long after he took his final breath and was gone.

My dad was an amazing person, one of a kind and I miss him so much. I'm running this race for him and also for all the other people and there families living with this dreadful disease.

Thank you for sponsoring me it doesn't matter how much because every bit counts.

Let’s just hope I make it across the finish line! x

This is for you DAD ! x