It has been 5 months since my beautiful wife Michele Kaye passed away from bowel cancer. Over the covid period like everyone else I had no choice but to let my hair grow but after, when we were told we could go back to the hairdressers, I decided to continue to let it grow for charity and to donate it in Michele’s name. My hair will be made into a wig and given to a cancer victim who has lost their hair due to chemotherapy.

Michele and I also wanted to raise money for bowel cancer UK to try to find a cure for this terrible disease. As Michele’s condition got worse we were recommended to Chai Cancer Care which is a charity run by donations. In this safe haven Michele was able to receive complimentary therapies to help her as well as counselling. When you are living with someone who is terminally ill you try imagine how you are going to feel when they are not around but when the day comes when your loved one passes, the world that you knew and loved suddenly ends and all you are left with is pain, confusion and emptiness. To lose your wife, your soul mate the person that filled your heart with sunshine and joy every moment of the day is indescribable, you feel completely lost. When such an important person in your life passes away it’s not just you but the whole family and friends that suffer. Chai Cancer Care has been an amazing support for our family, not only whilst Michele was alive but they still continue to help us emotionally as the suffering does not suddenly go away; it still continues everyday and it consumes you. You think you will be strong but the pain of losing someone can be so overwhelming that sometimes you feel like you are drowning. Chai Cancer are helping us rebuild our lives and are helping us to manage that pain and grief as it doesn’t just go away over night, it is a constant battle of emotions for all the family.

I am asking for donations from friends, family or anyone that either knew Michele or would just like to give money for both of these fantastic causes so we can help other families to use the centre as their life line. All proceeds will be split evenly to both Bowel Cancer UK and Chai Cancer Care.

I will be having my hair cut at Kink Hair Salon, 61 Daws Lane, Mill Hill. NW7 4SE on the 10th September at 11.15am. Kink Hair Salon was Michele’s happy place, in good days and bad days and our friends at Kink made her feel very special which I will always be grateful for. You are all welcome to come down and support us on the day but for the first time in my life I am asking for everyone I know or who knew Michele to donate whatever you can to the link below as I now realise that although we want to eliminate cancer, sometimes we can’t cure but we can help. Please give whatever you can.

Thank you in advance.

Martin Kaye