Story
Always cheerful and kind, with a very naughty sense of humour and a laugh that made you want to laugh with him (and sometimes at him), our wonderful Dad and Father-in-law, was willing to do anything for anyone - from helping with our maths homework and ferrying us (& our friends) around as teenagers, to teaching us to drive, not to mention decorating our houses and babysitting as we got older and our families grew. Just over two years ago in April 2015, he was diagnosed with Pleural Mesothelioma. This incredibly rare and widely unheard of type of lung cancer is caused solely by exposure to Asbestos, usually some 30+ years after the event. As its cause is so specific and there is now legislation in place to prevent the use of Asbestos in new construction and manage what is already in situ, it is hoped that the incidence of this type of cancer will decrease in years to come. In the meantime, there is no cure for this aggressive disease and very little in terms of treatment options that alleviate the symptoms or prolong life expectancy. Sadly, my Dad lost his incredibly dignified battle with this awful debilitating disease in November 2015. There is not a day that goes by that we as a whole family, don't miss him. So, my sisters and I, with our friend Cat in tow supporting us all the way, will be Shining while we walk full marathon distance overnight on September 23rd, in memory of our amazing Dad, to raise both awareness of Mesothelioma and funds for new treatment options with better success at managing this horrible illness. None of us are naturally athletic, or even particularly energetic so this will be a massive challenge for us, but one that we are determined to complete. A few miles for us will make a huge difference to others with Lung Cancer and any donation would be enormously appreciated.