Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

My father Alex was a truly wonderful man. He was a man for all people and was admired by many. He had friends across all age groups and always wanted to be a part of whatever was happening. He loved people. He was fit for much of his life and was fiercely independant. He was also a very determined man. So when in later life he became physically unable to move around much anymore, he found this difficult. But he never complained. Neither did he complain when he discovered that he was suffering from Lymphoma and that he would need radiotherapy treatment. He lived with his cancer for a number of years and was determined to live alone and continue with his independant life. He would drive himself here, there and everywhere, even though he could barely walk without two crutches to assist him and even then it was a struggle. By the autumn of 2011, the cancer was beginning to make it impossible for him to live alone at home. He was falling on the floor regularly due to his weakness and wasn't strong enough to pick himself up. Sometimes, he would be on the floor for hours until I came to his house to discover this. He had little time for panic button alarms!

In October 2011, he was admitted to hospital following another nasty fall where he injured himself. Whilst in hospital his health deteriorated and it was then that I was first approached by Macmillan. The nurse said that he was dying and that I should decide where to take him as there was nothing more that the hospital could do. I decided to take him home in the full expectation that he would only live for a few days. I took time off from work and my family and moved in to take care of dad. It was the hardest time of my life for all sorts of reasons, amongst which was not being able to spend time with my wife and young children. I contacted a number of charities (some to which dad had donated to all his life), but their response was nothing short of useless. Then Macmillan contacted me to see how I was coping. When I informed them that I needed help there were there for me. They sent a qualified nurse to sit with dad three nights a week through the night so that I could go home and sleep in my own bed and see my kids in the morning, before returning to dad. That respite care made a huge difference to me and I shall never forget it. Dad lived on and by the end of the foruth week of looking after him I was no-longer able or capable to look after him. He went into a care home where he died five weeks later on 28th December 2011. Macmillan were there for us when we needed it most. They deserve every penny for their assistance and help that they provide to others in similar situations. Please support them by supporting me.