Story
2022, 2023 & 2024 went off with a bang and our 1 night only event has rolled over to a 4th year.
Our Dad was diagnosed in early February 2017 with Mouth Cancer and underwent a 12 hour operation on the 28th February 2017 in which they removed the tumour from the floor of his mouth under his tongue, his teeth, over 100 lymph nodes and the front on his tongue. Additionally, several weeks later he underwent 6.5 weeks of radiotherapy. Our Dad was left with considerable difficulties after his treatment from difficulty in communicating, poor mental wellbeing and never gained the ability to eat anything more than a liquid diet.
Just over 14 months, on the 11th May the was dealt the devastating blow that he had metastases in his liver and more profoundly in his lungs, that was not curable. Despite starting life prolonging chemotherapy, our Dad sadly passed away on the 12th June, just 32 days after his terminal diagnosis. Understandably, this left the family shaken and shocked.
It was not until after our Dad died that we became aware of the Mouth Cancer foundation. It is a small charity however does some great work at trying to raise awareness, educating and promoting the early detection of mouth cancer as well as supporting those who have it. The one thing our Dad would often comment on was the lack of knowledge about Mouth Cancer and how he had no one to confide in that had or was experiencing similar issues. It is an illness that is very much displayed at all times, particularly in his case in which it changed his whole facial appearance.
We raised a phenomenal amount of £41,438.09 in the last 2 years for the Mouth Cancer Foundation in loving memory of our Dad.
The money raised was a huge boost for a such a small yet important charity. The money has gone to continuing to support patients and their families, trying to increase awareness and education from medical and dental professionals all the way down to every day folk! Not only that, Mouth Cancer Foundation are working hard to become the go to charity to protect patients voices. You heard it right, they are paying for people to have their voice digitally recorded and utilised in the sad circumstances where they lose the ability to speak themselves.
We would love to raise a significant about of money again this year to continue to fund the great foundation and all the work it does on a very small staff scale!