My name is Alan Richard Woolgar - ‘Woolly’ to many of my friends; I died at home on August 17^th, 2006 from Oesophageal Cancer.

I didn’t want to die in the way I did - I still had so much to give, smile, laugh and cry about; new people to meet; family and friends to enjoy …a beautiful daughter to walk down the aisle at her future wedding; a good-looking son to watch become ‘a chip off the old block’…..and so many more motorbikes to be ridden for the sheer exhilaration and buzz they gave me.

My cancer was discovered too late, a common thing for this type of disease. I tried all types of treatment including an operation (aborted as in-operable), luck was just never on my side. Even being told it was terminal never defeated my sense of hope and wanting to prove the medical professionals I was the exception to their prognosis.

But as my condition began to bite, I resigned myself (reluctantly) to outside help. St Catherine’s Hospice in Crawley is a centre specialising in palliative care and it was suggested that during difficult times I would benefit from their care as opposed to a normal hospital that could do nothing for me. During a number of week long stays I received tremendous personal care and attention from nurses and doctors (some of them not bad at all!) to help relieve my symptoms. Family and friends were always welcome to visit and my partner/wife (Ally) was able to be with me 24/7 if needed.

Therefore, I am asking for your support in providing whatever amount of sponsorship you can spare in supporting my wife, Ally, run the London Marathon this year on April 22^nd, raising much needed monies for St Catherine’s continual existence. Ally is not a ‘runner’ (a bacardi an’coke on the sofa is more her), but I know that on my behalf she will finish that Marathon (on her knees, crawling if need be) and so provide someone else in a similar position to mine with the care and comfort this Hospice surpasses at.

Please make a donation for St Catherine’s Hospice - make yourself feel proud.

Thanks

Alan (16.03.1957 - 17.08.2006)         49 good years of life

Update by Allyson Woolgar (as of 26/04/2007)

Well Alan, somehow I sense that you already know that I successfully completed the London Marathon last Sunday (22nd April).  With your name proudly printed on the back of my running vest you travelled every step of those 26.2 miles with me.  The pride and joy I felt upon crossing the finish line was bittersweet; for I knew that no matter where I looked within that immense crowd, you couldn't be there.

When we first talked about the idea of me taking part, you smiled that smile of yours and questioned why on earth would I want to put myself through such an ordeal.  Typical of you..more concerned about others rather than the 'real' ordeal being faced at that time - the awful cancer!  But when we realised how vital funds could be raised for 'our' hospice via a few hours of a little physical discomfort, the idea didn't seem so absurd.

Perhaps I should have trained a bit harder and produced a better time, but it would have made no difference to the wonderful amount of money we've raised (and still are) in your name.  I promise to try and thank everyone that has contributed and supported me through this fund-raising.  It is comforting to think that this money will go towards the provision of further palliative care for someone else about to face a smiliar situation to ours...but I'm still selfish enough to wish it hadn't happened to you.

Hopefully, last Sunday, you would have felt that I truly responded to the main question asked in that final, poignant, piece of music* played at your farewell service.

Always with me

Ally   xxxx

Marathon Finishing Time - 5:32:31

* 'Proud' by Heather Small