Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I would like to raise money for research into melanoma and also raise awareness of the disease and the risk to young people.

My son, Ross, was a vibrant caring young man.  He was misdiagnosed in September 2015 with a spitz nevus.  He was told because of his young age they felt it wasn't a malignant melanoma.  He was not followed up with a radio active tracer to see if anything had spread from the site of the mole as it was not deemed necessary.  He went for 3 monthly checks letting the professionals know that he was having pain under his arms but was told because the pain was not continuous he was fine.  He was constantly tired but this was put down to his long hours as a hotel manager.  He developed cysts on his back but was told on 17 October 2016 that they were just cysts and should be removed under the GP.  On 20 November 2016 having finished his shift he found himself in excruciating abdominal pain.  His fiance took him to A&E and the next day he was diagnosed with stage IV melanoma - the melanoma had spread to his stomach lining, lymph glands, liver and stomach aorta.  Just over 8 weeks later he passed away on 25 January 2017.

Ross' family wish to work towards other parents not experiencing the same heartache from what is often thought of as a less frightening type of cancer.

Any donations in memory of my beautiful son will be greatly appreciated.