On his 50th birthday, our dad was told he has terminal cancer.

There are some moments in life that completely change everything. For our family, that moment came on Dad’s 50th birthday, when we were given the devastating news that his cancer is terminal.

In an instant, the future we had imagined together changed. Our lives have been turned upside down, and we are now facing something no family should ever have to face.

But if there is one thing we know about our dad, it is that he has spent his entire life putting everyone else before himself.

Dad is the person who would give you his last penny, open his door to you when you had nowhere else to go, put food on your table, give you a warm bed and do everything he could to help you get back on your feet.

He has lovingly raised several children, with his youngest being just 12 years old. But Dad’s love has never stopped with his own children. He and our wonderful stepmum have opened their home and provided a loving family environment for three other children, who needed a safe and stable home.

Over the years, they have also supported countless other people who needed somewhere safe to turn. They have given people a place to stay, food, warmth, support and, perhaps most importantly, someone who believed in them.

Dad has always seen the good in people. He gives people chances when others might have given up on them. He has never expected anything in return.

And our stepmum has always been right there beside him — supporting him, supporting us and supporting all of the people they have welcomed into their lives.

They have spent their lives giving to other people. Now, we want to give something back to them.

Although Dad’s cancer cannot be cured, he has chosen to undergo chemotherapy in the hope that it will give him more precious time with the people he loves.

He has also made the incredibly difficult decision not to find out how long he has left. Instead, he wants to concentrate on living. On making memories. On laughing with his family. On spending time with the people he loves and making every single day count.

We are continuing to pray and hold onto hope.

Dad has unfortunately been turned down for clinical trials so far, but we are hoping that once he has completed his first chemotherapy sessions and we have his results, there may be further options available to him.

And while we fight alongside Dad for more time, there is something else we desperately want to make happen.

Dad and our stepmum have always dreamed of getting married.

For years, they have talked about their wedding day. But somehow, there was always someone else who needed them. Another responsibility. Another person to help. Another reason to put themselves last.

They have spent their lives caring for everyone else, and their own dreams have always come second.

We don't want that anymore.

Our dream is to see Dad and our stepmum walk down the aisle together.

To see them finally have the wedding they have always dreamed of. To have their family around them. To celebrate their love. To create a beautiful, unforgettable memory that we can all hold onto for the rest of our lives.

We know that no amount of money can change what our family is facing. But it can give us options. It can ease some of the financial pressure. And, most importantly, it can help us make the most of the time we have together.

Any money we are able to raise will go towards:

• Potential or alternative treatments and associated costs

• Helping with the financial strain

• Creating special family memories while we have this precious time together

• Making our dream of seeing Dad and our stepmum get married a reality

If you can donate, no matter how big or small, we will be incredibly grateful.

But if you can't donate, please don't think you can't help.

Sharing this page could be just as powerful.

You never know who might see it, who might be able to help, or how far one simple share could reach.

Every donation. Every share. Every message. Every prayer. Every kind word.

It all means more to our family than we could ever put into words.

Our dad has spent his entire life being there for other people.

Now it’s our turn to be there for him.

We want to give Dad more time. More memories. More moments with his children and the people he loves.

And, if we can, we want to give him the chance to stand beside the woman he loves and finally say “I do.”

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for reading Dad’s story, for supporting our family and for helping us give two people who have given so much to others the love, happiness and memories they truly deserve.

With love and gratitude,

The Hewkin Family ❤️