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On 11th January 1995 at 3am my father, Ian Ward, passed away due to lung cancer at an age of 38 years. He was diagnosed in September 1994 and was told he only had a couple of months at most to live. Due to his condition he had to move back in with his Mum, which was a 3 to 4 hour drive away from me and my younger brother (14 and 12 respectively). On the night before he left, he promised us that he would fight to live to see our next birthdays; Oliver's being the 19th December and mine being 31st December. Over that 4 month period, he struggled to live physically, emotionally and financially; surviving on a single persons pension, oxygen canisters and morphine. Every now and then he was rushed into hospital at which we made the 3-4 hour journey to see if this was it. 19th December came around and Oliver opened his birthday present in front of Dad; a pair of trainers that Dad had picked out himself, struggling to breath as they pulled up on double yellow lines outside the store as he was wheeled in. 25th December and Christmas Day arrived - excitement between me and Oliver, but both of us knowing it would be our last Christmas with him. 31st December came around and he had done what he had promised and survived both our next birthdays. My card simply said 'Love Dad' - according to Grandma it had taken him over 30 minutes to write. 11 days later he passed away peacefully with my Mum there giving her full support.

My Dad was simply the greatest Dad in the world. He had a simple upbringing and yes he was a bit of a dreamer and didn't do all to well at school. The jobs he did, always to the best of his ability, were not seen as the greatest of jobs but provided for the family and at times the wider family. He loved everyone in the family and on both sides - even after his divorce.

Growing up, we ventured through the Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, football teams and youth clubs. All of which he contributed hugely to! For years he ran our local cubs and then the local scouts supporting many children and the wider community. As me and Oliver got older he began to run, with others, the local football team encouraging everyone to take part. It was about 2 years before being diagnosed with cancer that he realised that his calling in life was to work with young people. He went back to college to get his GCSE in Maths and went on to run the local leisure centre, the local youth club and Summer club for young people. I know that if this dreadul event had not occurred he would have gone on to support and help thousands of young people.

He is sadly missed by everyone who knew him and I know that he would want to wish everyone well and thank everyone for all their support of myself, my brother and my Mum during the past 20 years as well as everyone who supported him during his life time.

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