*UPDATE*

Sunday 1st August at 11:00am

This is the day my Dad found his peace🕊

We got Dad home, surrounded by his wife and 4 children all touching, holding hands, rubbing backs. Touching as one. Right up until Dads last final breath. As the one close family unit we will always be. It was calm, it was peaceful, it was beautiful.

You will never be forgotten Dad, I promise you that.

Sunday - The Day Of Rest has a whole new meaning to me now.

I love you Daddy so very very much & I will miss you every single day.

Fly that Blue Chelsea Flag up high💙💫

💙

I just want to start off and say the biggest thankyou to every single one of you who has sent their condolences, well wishes, love, messages & prayers to myself & my family and of course for all your generous donations.

Please don’t think us rude if we haven’t replied, we have read them all & truly appreciate them. We are still trying to wrap our heads around it and process it all.

As I now cannot use the fundraising money for what I initially started it up for. I would still love to get my Dad away. To get Mum & Dad to Cape Verde which holds a special place in both of their hearts.

So Mum can spread his ashes, where they have shared many a happy memory, where they both dreamt of moving to one day.

Any money that is left over will be split equally between Cancer Research UK, Macmillan & Weldmar.

Of course if anyone would like a refund for their donation as it’s not being used for what they initially donated for, please don’t hesitate or be embarrassed to message me.

Best wishes,

Gemma x

*************

As a family we received the most heartbreaking news on Friday 19th March 2021.

A diagnosis everyone fears. On Friday 19th March 2021. My Dad. Our Hero. The strongest person i have ever known. Was initially diagnosed with Stage 4 Terminal Lung Cancer which had spread to his bones.

Fast forward just a short 16 weeks. 4 months. But also the longest & darkest 4 months of our lives.

Dads diagnosis is very different.

Dad has Stage 4 Terminal Stomach Cancer, which has spread to his Oesophagus, both of his Lungs, Liver, Ribs & Spine.

And if that wasn‘t cruel enough, the Cancer has wrapped itself around his Spinal Cord & it is inevitable that Dad will end up paralysed before this cruel disease takes him.

Watching someone you love and adore, in pain & struggling, watching them deteriorate slowly before your very own eyes, is the hardest hurdle as a family we have ever had to face together. Its soul destroying, heart shattering, a pain we have never felt before.

My Dad has shown so much strength i didn‘t know was even physically possible. He has taken every single step of his cancer journey in his stride.

“Hit me with everything you’ve got, I’m not prepared to go for a very long time. I’m not going anywhere”. Dad’s words.

Even though Dad is the one physically going through this horrific journey, he still only thinks about his wife Jan (my Mum) all his Grandkids & of course my siblings & myself.

He is the most selfless person, always putting everyone else first before himself, even now. He is still the rock, the glue, that is keeping us together & not falling apart.

I am just so beyond proud of my Dad, still keeping positive & upbeat, i have no idea how, he always has the right words to say & the banter is still out of this world, he just knows even in the darkest moments to put a smile on our faces and a giggle in our bellies.

Dad is one truly inspirational man.

Although we can‘t help Dad in any way other than being there for him, we wanted to give something back to my Dad for all that he has done for us over the years, because if anyone deserves it, my Dad does.

We recently looked into booking a holiday for my Dad to go away on holiday with Mum, to have one last holiday together as husband and wife. To create some lasting wonderful, happy memories together, before it is too late.

But the travel insurance is just extortionate, too much for myself & my siblings to pull together.

Mum is now not working as much, and Dad is quite obviously not in work anymore, so income is now tight. Dad is a very proud man so i am sure he will cringe to the high heavens that i have even contemplated creating this page.

Which takes me to the reason i have made this page.

I am asking for your help, to get my Dad away with my Mum for that one last holiday. Please, if you could spare a small amount, any amount, we would be forever grateful.

I know due to COVID-19 you may not be able to afford much, or even at all.

So could i please ask that you share this to your pages. A share will go a long way too.

Thankyou.

Best wishes,

Gemma xxx