My wife Annie, and I moved to Wales from Yorkshire in 2001, bought a house in Peterston Super Ely in 2002 and welcomed literally thousands of people into our home over the years for rest and restoration. We had reached the time when we thought it was right to downsize but as we were thinking about that, Annie was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in October 2019.

She was treated very expeditiously at Velindre, and was declared completely cancer free in January 2020. She received such wonderful care from the Breast Centre in Llandough, that she decided to get into training to walk the Wales Coastal Path to raise money for them. I could only cheer on from the sidelines because I’d had a pacemaker fitted and wasn’t walking too well. Towards the end of the year, Annie found a lump in her back which turned out to be recurrence of her cancer which had spread very aggressively. Undeterred, with the help of her daughter Max, she set up a Facebook page: Annie’s Wales Coastal Path Challenge to raise money for the Breast Centre and City Hospice. We raised over £10,000 which was split between the two charities. The Facebook page is still available, but not the fundraising, with lots of stories and photos of the many many people who joined in and contributed.

Unfortunately the cancer didn’t respond to chemotherapy, radiotherapy or immunotherapy so she was referred to the City Hospice palliative care team for care at home. They were all amazing!!! Especially our palliative care nurse Julie. We felt so cared for and supported, both during Annie’s illness and afterwards. The service City Hospice provides, mainly from charitable donations is phenomenal! As I wasn’t able to do much of the walking I’ve looked for other ways to help by volunteering in a shop, as a volunteer driver at occasional events. Nothing I can do will ever repay the wonderful care I’ve received from the Hospice staff.

As this is my 80th year, I’ve just passed 79, and never having been very adventurous, I thought I’d give skydiving a try. My 16 year old granddaughter, Erin, was very excited by the idea and wanted to do it with me so her mum, Jodie, decided she’d better do it as well!

Three generations jumping to celebrate the life of a wonderful lady who was loved by so many and an inspiration to even more.