On the 16th August my dad, our Steve, lost his battle with cancer, at the young age of 63.

34 months ago (2 years and 10months) dad was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer. In Jan 2016 he began his journey of beating cancer with his first round of chemo. My dad fought for 2 and a half years through multiple treatments, multiple trials via the Royal Marsden in Sutton and battled with his body in a way that I can only say makes me proud.

In Dad’s last few weeks he didn’t disappoint with his well known stubborness by surprising the doctors and making it through all the stages they didn’t think he would survive. 

In those last weeks we, as a family, got to share conversations, cuddles, tears and memories with him. Time that we will forever be greatful for, though extremely tough, will always be hours that we got the chance to tell him again and again how much we love him.

Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice are an incredible centre that deserve more than just our gratitude for what they did for dad in his last 6 weeks of life.

The Hospice offered 24 hour care to dad by professionals who were not just medical staff but interested in sitting with dad and hearing about his life and his journey. They wouldn’t just deliver meds and leave they would sit and talk to him, to us. They helped us to make his wishes possible. They provided whatever food he fancied on demand, and made banana milkshakes for him daily just how he loved them.

The Hospice also made it possible and comfortable for my mum to stay with him 24hours a day, offering her a bed in his room, emotional support and food.

For my family they supported us in so many ways that wasn’t just caring for dad. So many of the women that work there became friendly faces.

The building in which this hospice is run offers patients a tranquil setting, whereby my dad laid in his bed able to look out of a large grand window in to the woodlands. On one occasion we were able to take him out to the flowered garden (run by volunteers) for him to sit and enjoy the smell of the storm (something we both loved to do), the carers made that possible at a time when it seemed like it would never happen, and the memory of seeing him outside and happy will remain with me forever.

We ask that in memory of dad, not for flowers but for a donation towards Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice. No matter how small or large the donation is, it will continue to help them support and care for patients just like my dad, and families like they did for us. This hospice is a free service, it only gets a third of it’s funding from the government and wouldn’t be able to continue without donations.

Please donate to this wonderful place, and if you don’t wish to make a donation then alternatively located near Bexleyheath station is the Greenwich and Bexley Hospice charity shop who always accept donations.

We love you dad. Our hearts will always have a hole since you left and it’ll never be the same without you. We will always love you, always miss you, always think of you and always share memories of you. We promise to look after each other and have the memory of you live on through us. You leave behind a legacy of knowledge, a wonderful strong wife, a son who is proud of you, a daughter who adores you, two incredible smart grandchildren who loved you, a daughter-in-law and son-in-law that thought the world of you, parents, nieces, nephews, sisters, cousins and so many friends who miss you. Together we will share your memories, your life stories and all that you achieved. Together we will miss our tech guy, our mechanic, our plumber, our builder, our go-to guy, our cameraman, our friend, our cousin, our brother, our son, our granddad, our dad, our husband. You leave so many of us with hurt in our heart at losing you, but the hurt is worth all of the love, memories, laughter, smiles and knowledge that we shared with you.

I love you dad, now and forever. Your darling, your sweetheart, your little girl.