Helping Sue & Her Family Through Heartbreak

On August 11th, 2024, the world lost a man who wore so many hats —Richard Forshaw was a husband, a father, a son, a brother, an uncle, and a friend, as well as a practical joker & bringer of fun & joy! Just a few months ago, Rich and Sue were in the thick of it—four kids, two dogs, three cats, and a house full of love and the usual chaos. They had routines, rituals, and plans that stretched far into the future, until the headaches started. And then the vision changes. And then, suddenly, life as they knew it was pulled out from under them with a diagnosis no one could ever prepare for: stage 4 metastatic melanoma, 18 lesions on the brain.

The next four months were a whirlwind—doctors, treatments, surgeries, and a lot of hoping against hope. Through it all, Rich and Sue held onto each other and the life they’d built together, still dreaming of a future they desperately wanted to keep. After brain bleeds, surgeries, and a stroke, Rich’s body couldn’t fight anymore, and he slipped away, Sue, Isaac, Paige, Hope, and Aaron now trying to figure out how to move forward in a world without him.

The thing is, when you lose someone who is your everything, it’s not just your heart that breaks—your whole life cracks wide open. The bills keep coming, even when your world has stopped. Sue is now faced with the impossible task of grieving her soulmate, comforting her children, and figuring out how to make ends meet as a single mum on a fraction of the income they once had. The costs of medical care and a funeral are overwhelming on their own, and that’s before you even think about the day-to-day expenses of raising four kids and caring for their furry companions.

So, here’s where we come in. I’m starting this GoFundMe because I believe in the power of love to lift people up, even in the darkest of times. Let’s wrap Sue and the kids in the warmth of our community, showing them that they’re not alone, that they’re held by so many hands, and that we can help make this unbearable time just a little bit softer. Thank you for reading. Any donation, no matter how small, is a lifeline. And if you can’t give money but want to send your love and prayers, those are just as precious.