My darling husband, Ben, passed away in 2015 after a 6 year long battle with tongue cancer. 

After his diagnosis in October 2009 and a gruelling round of radiotherapy, he was thankfully put in to remission in March of 2010; this was until two months later when they found a lump the size of a golf ball in his throat. On June 7th 2010, his voice box and tongue were surgically removed leaving him unable to eat or speak for the remainder of his life. Despite only being able to communicate via handwritten notes and being PEG fed, his humour never wavered and he continued to be his cheeky self until his second diagnosis in November 2014. This time the legions were in his lungs and his scans were lighting up like christmas trees. 

The winter that followed became our last as a family and by that Boxing Day we’d learnt he’d be lucky to see New Years. New Years came and went, and we were relieved to have him home with us; “if he sees Easter we’ll be lucky”. We ended up counting each public holiday and event as a blessing of a life that we were so sure would end too soon. 

We were fortunate enough to see the summer through, and that autumn, he watched our eldest, Katie, go off to university, something he’d never be able to do for our son, James. He succumbed to his illness on the 15th of October 2015, aged 57, and died in his sleep surrounded by his family.

Nobody’s journey with cancer is easy, but ours would have been so much harder if we hadn’t had the support of all of the team at Longfield hospice. They are such a wonder and we owe so much, as a family, to them. So please, if you’re able, support me through my trekking challenge in aid of Longfield.

 About Longfield:

At Longfield Community Hospice, we continually strive to reach everyone in Gloucestershire who needs our care, often during the precious last months, weeks and days of their lives. We want loved ones to have a pain free, dignified and compassionate death, with the full support of our expert and committed team.Longfield Community Hospice has delivered the best possible end-of-life care for over 30 years to many thousands of patients and families; and by supporting the Iceland Trek and donating today you will help ensure Longfield Hospice is here for future generations.