Page 33 - Inspire Magazine 2019

He had six months of chemo and radiotherapy but I remember vividly the tour he did round the country,
became very poorly on it. He passed away on 9 raising money and awareness for this awful disease.
th
October 2017. I knew then that this was where I wanted the money
to go so this charity could provide better support for
Heartbroken doesn’t even begin to describe how I felt other families; significantly better than we had.
and still feel. For me, it wasn’t just losing Alan but it
was the manner in which he died which haunts me. I’ve continued to support Roy Castle Lung Cancer
Foundation. Each year, we’ve done a walk in Alan’s
What if he’d had a CT scan earlier? Could that have memory and this year, I’m hoping to do another to
given him, given us, more time together? commemorate what would have been a wonderful
year - our 50th wedding anniversary, my 70th birthday
And then there was the matter of care after his and Alan’s 75th.
second diagnosis. I don’t feel he was adequately cared
for. He did not have a dedicated lung cancer nurse We’ll head off in the cars, go for a walk and then have
specialist and we received very little communication a nice lunch somewhere.
about his condition or treatment.
Simple. Classic Alan.
Knowing what I know now about Roy Castle Lung
Cancer Foundation, and the great level of support the Life still doesn’t feel right without Alan. I do what I can
charity has given to me since, I wish we had known to carry on. I volunteer with the elderly, helping to
about them before Alan had died. look after them or just make sure they have someone
to talk to. I believe we should help others.
So much was out of my control. But what I could
control was his send-off and so I chose to focus on it. You have to keep going. But it’s hard. It’s really hard.
It helps knowing I’m playing a part in supporting
With the help of the Dorset A7 Club, I arranged a others. That support is so vital. It can make the
12-car procession for Alan’s farewell journey with worst of times that little bit more bearable.”
one of his own cars at the front. It was an
incredible sight and a fitting goodbye
to the most wonderful man.

We had the biggest crematorium
and there still wasn’t enough room
for everyone. It was clear to see how
many people loved and cared for him.
It made me feel immensely proud,
knowing how much Alan would have
loved it.

We had a collection at his funeral and
raised over £1000. I desperately
wanted it to go to a lung cancer
charity. I wanted something good
to come out of his death.

I then found out about Roy
Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.
It conjured up lots of memories
of growing up watching the INSPIRE 2019
man himself.

33