A "proud" dad was given months to live after being diagnosed with rare form of cancer.
Kate Pearce, 27, said it was a "lonely" experience caring for her "proud" dad mostly alone as he lost weight and became too tired to eat. Diagnosed with a form of lymphoma at 68, retired firefighter Tony aimed to make it to at least his 69th birthday, but he died a week before it.
Kate said it was "bittersweet" when her best friend was given the all clear from the same cancer only a month earlier but she said it highlighted the importance of knowing what symptoms to look out for. Kate, from Widnes, said: "My dad, I just don't think he realised the severity of it until it was too late. If you find any lumps or anything like that, just get it checked straight away."
READ MORE: Woman noticed strange change in her skin before tragic death
She added: "It was quite hard seeing him deteriorate, and he spent his last days at my house, he moved in with me, so it was a shock, but because I knew the inevitable was going to happen, you could grieve before he actually passed."
Kate said she will remember his most in her childhood memories on the beaches and the barbecues on the Isle of Man, where the family moved after her mum died. She said she misses their trips to Tony's favourite pub, the Helter Skelter in Frodsham, and walks in Crosby with dogs from her doggy daycare, which he helped her set up.
When her dad died, Kate wanted to raise awareness and support for Lymphoma Action, a charity that offers advice and support for families in what can be a "lonely" experience. In December 2021, Kate organised a dog walk in Delamere Forest as a fundraiser.
Now, she's smashed a £500 target to raise more than £2,300 by jumping from a plane at 15,000ft yesterday, Saturday, March 26, reaching a speed of roughly 120 mph.
Lymphoma Action's community and partnerships manager, Sarah Thorn, said: "We want to say a huge thank you to Kate. We also want to commend her bravery for taking on this challenge! And for raising such a fantastic amount to support our work.
"In the UK, 53 people a day receive a lymphoma diagnosis making it the most common blood cancer, and the most common cancer in 16-25-year old's. Our vision is to ensure nobody has to face lymphoma alone and with people like Kate supporting us we can move closer to achieving that."
Common symptoms of lymphoma include swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, infections, night sweats, itching and fevers.
For further details on Lymphoma Action, please visit: https://lymphoma-action.org.uk/
You can donate to Kate's fundraiser here.
