As most of you will know earlier this year my wonderful husband Leon passed away from Pancreatic Cancer. This terrible disease has destroyed our family, we now have the biggest hole in our hearts. Leon was an amazing man who I was lucky enough to call my husband and best friend. He was a loving father to 3 beautiful children and a dear friend to many. He fought the bravest battle for 2 years adamant that he would beat this terrible disease and we all believed him. He was lucky enough to be eligible for the surgery he needed to remove the tumour in October 2021 and he had 6 months of chemotherapy which started just before Christmas 2021. He finished his chemo in the June and had a good 6 months where we truly believed he had done it, he had defied all the odds and looked like he was well on his road to recovery, at his last scan in October he was given the all clear and told he wouldn’t need another scan until April 2023. But in December 2022 he started to get some pain and discomfort in his back and stomach and in January went back for another scan and the consultants exact words were “I honestly can’t believe what I am looking at” his cancer was back and this time it wasn’t curable it had spread into the fluid in his stomach and was no longer contained. Heartbroken and devastated don’t even come close to how we were both feeling but Leon still continued to be so brave and strong and always looking after everyone else. Leon deteriorated rather quickly I think after being so strong for so long that when he was finally told there was nothing anyone could do his body just didn’t have anything left to fight with- but even when he was so poorly, so weak and probably in a lot more pain than he ever let anyone see he still managed to make everybody laugh, smile and was just a true inspiration. Leon Leah I couldn’t be more proud of you- the most kind, caring and thoughtful man I’ve ever met. And we miss you every single day.

Pancreatic cancer is such a cruel disease that most people don’t recover from because diagnosing it isn’t easy that’s why this year for mine and Leon’s birthday (mine the 4th of October and Leon’s the 6th) I’m asking people to donate to a charity that holds a very special place in my heart Pancreatic Cancer UK. No one can bring my husband back or make this pain go away but if I can make a difference and raise money to help to find a cure, earlier diagnosis and better treatments for this terrible disease then that’s the best thing I can do- to honour and remember the most incredible man I’ve ever known. Leon Leah I’ll love you until the end of time.

I can’t imagine spending a birthday without you and I can’t get my head around the fact that you will never have another one so please if you can donate anything at all- whatever you would have spent on a card, a present, a cake or a pint at the pub please please it will all make a difference 💜

It’s unacceptable that more than half of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer die within 3 months. Survival rates have improved enormously for most cancers, yet for pancreatic cancer, this is not the case.

Pancreatic Cancer UK is dedicated to taking on this injustice using every possible means. They're supporting people with pancreatic cancer now, campaigning, and funding vital research to transform the future. Help them to make the breakthroughs that people with pancreatic cancer so desperately need.