Earlier this year, I lost my Dad, Stephen Whiteside, to cancer after a hard battle that he fought for many months. After being diagnosed with prostate cancer some 9-10 years ago, we thought he’d beaten it, and for a while he seemingly had.

However, after some enjoyable years of retirement, the cancer resurged aggressively and there was only so much that could be done. With his family at his side, we got to see him off before he departed on his next adventure, smiling and at peace.

My Dad was a man of simple tastes; cars, computers, WW2 model making, spaghetti westerns, fishing, bonsai trees, and more important, good food and good company. He was a family man, and he loved his holidays abroad with them. That sense of adventure, in seeing new places and tasting new cultures was important to him. He was also a people person, whether he was fixing your car as an AA man, or chatting to strangers around the hotel, he always made time for people.

That giving personality prompted him to join a group of parish member volunteers from St. Finnian’s Church of Ireland, to help build a primary school in Uganda in 1999, as part of their Fields of Life charity scheme.

He was a kind, gentle soul who always had a positive take on things, no matter how dire the situation seemed. I hope to continue that outlook as best as I can. In the spirit of Dad’s generosity and man-of-action approach to life, I’m taking on the Mourne Wall Walk Challenge – walking 33 km’s around the Mourne Wall, on 15th August, alongside my wife Madi and my good friend Stuart.

Any small contribution that you can make to support me will help keep the jobs and facilities of key workers who are helping cancer patients and their families through difficult times. Whether it be via their therapeutic services, or their contribution to research - every little helps.