COURAGEOUS Graham Trigg is living life to the full – even as he battles cancer.
The Redditch pensioner was diagnosed with terminal cancer in November, but thanks to a course of chemotherapy at the Alex’s Garden Suite, the tumours have shrunk and he’s been given a new lease of life.
And he was so touched by the care he received at the Redditch Hospital that last Sunday he did a sponsored tandem skydive.
“I did it to raise money for Macmillan Nurses,” said Graham, aged 70.
“The way they and the rest of the staff have looked after me and supported my wife Pat is second to none.”
So far he’s raised more than £900 with £700 of that coming from the big hearted regulars at the Shakespeare Pub in Studley.
“The support from the Shakespeare has been phenomenal – I can’t thank them enough,” said the former lorry driver.
Graham and Pat have two children and four grandchildren and life was fine until, after a bout of being sick, he went to the doctors.
“They did a test and said, right, off you go, straight to hospital,” he said.
He was given weeks, possibly months to live, and put on a course of chemotherapy.
His family rallied round to support him.
“My son came over from Australia for the first time in 15 years. If there’s one thing good thing that’s come out of this, it’s that,” said Graham.
“We also managed to get all my siblings together without us all fighting too, which was quite something.”
Graham did a tandem jump in New Zealand ten years ago and doing another one just seemed the right thing to do to say thank you.
“The staff were so cheerful and pleasant in the Garden Suite, and the staff on the ward have been unbelievable. It’s what’s kept me going, telling me and Pat to stay positive.”
To see a video of Graham’s jump, visit https://youtu.be/vc5Dl6SnKvI
