COMPLETED ON THE 15th OCTOBER 2023.

On the 18th of November 2022, we sadly lost our beloved Dad after his long, brave battle with Cancer. My sister Izzy, my cousin Abi and I wanted to commemorate our Dad whilst also supporting a charity so close to our hearts. That’s why on the 15th of July 2023 we will be doing a Tandem Skydive in memory of our Dad to raise money for Ty Olwen Trust. My Dad loved outdoor sports, in particular the sports that gave him a thrill, so we thought there was no better way than jumping 10,000ft from the air to celebrate his life.

Stephen’s Story

In October 2011, my Dad was sadly diagnosed with Chondrosarcoma. This is a very rare type of cancer that forms in the bone cartilage. Approximately 600 people are diagnosed with this each year. After this devastating diagnosis, my Dad had multiple extensive surgeries to remove the tumour, with one lasting over 19 hours. Unfortunately, despite this effort, my Dad never lived free of Cancer and continued to have regular checkups throughout his 11-year battle. From 2012 to 2021, my Dad went through 2 cycles of Chemotherapy to keep this disease at bay. In October 2021, MRI scan results showed that my Dad’s cancer had spread to several parts of his body. Unfortunately due to previous treatments, it was decided that further treatment was not an option due to the health concerns surrounding it. Despite this, my Dad remained positive and continued to live his life to the fullest. He was an inspiration to us all.

In early July 2022, my Dad was admitted into Ty Olwen Hospice after showing symptoms of rapid deterioration. It soon became apparent that something was wrong. Days later we were told the devastating news that my Dad had a Brain Tumour and time became very limited. Over the summer, my Dad received care from the team at Ty Olwen and as a family we cannot thank them enough. He received symptom control care whilst enjoying the beautiful grounds that the hospice has to offer. The hospice not only cared for my Dad, they always ensured that we were supported as family. The care he received was phenomenal and we will always be grateful that my Dad was able to receive such thorough care and support during the last few months of his life. In August 2022, my Dad was well enough to leave Ty Olwen Hospice and continued to fight in the comfort of his own home. Throughout this time, My Dad received care from the Palliative Team which works alongside the hospice. Ty Olwen has a strong financial commitment from the NHS to fund the day-to-day running of the service. However, it is necessary for the Ty Olwen Trust to raise additional funds in order to provide the care that they do. Any donation, no matter how small, will make such a big difference to this amazing charity. As a family, our goal is to help contribute to the funds to ensure that this level of care can continue. The largest repayment we can give is doing our part to ensure that this level of care is available to those who need it the most, just like my Dad did.