I am raising money for Christies in memory of 3 people very close to me who have all died from some form of cancer, but also in support of friends who currently have and are being treated for cancer.

My beloved wife Sylvia had breast cancer 25 years ago and was successfully treated, but in 2014 another cancer was diagnosed. Vulval cancer. The severity of the cancer was so high she was immediately given treatment and scans at various hospitals as a matter of urgency. After weeks and weeks of scans, treatments and hospital visits, Sylvia was told by the doctors they believed they had successfully treated the cancer and the outcome looked good. It was only some months later after feeling unwell and falling at home that Sylvia was admitted to hospital for tests. The cancer had returned. Sylvia's health had deteriorated, her memory was going and she struggled to eat and talk. It was only a matter of weeks since admission that Sylvia passed away peacefully after suffering a stroke in hospital in May 2015.

Three years later my best mate Raymond Hilton died in 2018. Ray was a good friend for over 40 years, my neighbour, drinking buddy and way back when we were fit, running and playing squash . Ray's lung cancer again was sudden and after diagnosis he quickly deteriorated and passed away in Dr Kershaws Hospice.


A close friend of the family James "No drama" Chadwick known as Jimmy also died not long after Ray in 2018 with cancer of the oesophagus. Again Jimmy was diagnosed and quickly deteriorated and passed away in hospital.


I was also diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2015 and underwent 4 weeks of radiotherapy at the Christies unit in Oldham and have now been given the all clear but still undergo periodic reviews.