In Memory of Andy Sale and Simon Slater

We are raising funds to donate to Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in memory Andy Sale and Simon Slater to give something back as they battled so hard to save my Dad and Si and to help other families in similar positions to ours. My dad and Si were childhood best friends, who both sadly passed away of cancer back in December 2021 and November 2021, respectively.

My Dad, Andy, was a very fit, active, social and well loved man. He would regularly take part in triathlons, marathons and would cycle 100 miles for the fun of it with his cycling group, Kirkdale Wheelers and Liverpool Bravehearts as well as being a member of Merseytri triathlon group and completed 3 Ironman challenges and numberous half Ironmans.

All of that was until December 2020 when he suddenly became ill and attended A&E whilst living in Spain. After a lot of tests, surgery, tens of thounds of pounds worth of medical bills and around 3 months later he was diagnosed with agressive Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), he started treatment in Spain but decided to move back to the UK to continue treatment at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre. 

My dads consultant tried so many different types of chemotherapy for my dad, in hopes that it would work and initially it looked like it was going to and that he was going to be okay but then in October 2021 we got the devasting news that his cancer had progressed to Ritchers Syndrome.

Ritchers Syndrome is a rare and very aggressive complication of having CLL that also has a very poor prognosis of up to 1 year. My dad then started a stronger chemotherapy and radiotherapy, unfortunately the chemo didn't do it's job. Luckily, my dad was a great candidate for a new fancy treatment that takes place at The Christies called Car-TCell Therapy that had a 30-40% chance of putting him into remission, he was due to start his Car-T journey by harvesting his T cells in January 2022.

Unfortunately, 17th December 2021 my dad took a turn for the worse and we were told that there was nothing more they can do for him but to make him comfortable. My dad passed away on 23rd December 2021 aged 54.

On November 16, 2021, at the age of 54, Simon lost his battle to cancer. The world lost a true gentleman who cared deeply about his family, friends and anyone he encountered.

This was his second battle of a 5 year war with a truly hideous disease. He was first diagnosed in 2016, when a lump formed in his throat. After months of numerous mis-diagnoses by the doctor, it was finally confirmed as oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Treatment started immediately and Simon braced himself for what he was warned to be a brutal treatment regimen over many months. The treatment left him unable to eat and barely drink water, unable to swallow. He ultimately lost the ability to enjoy all of those things that we take for granted every day. It changed his life forever but never changed his good nature and outlook on life.

In August 2020 we got the news we had been hoping for that Simon was being discharged from Clatterbridge, cancer free and ready to get on with his life and live it to the full.

This happy time was short lived when 2 months later, after falling ill, he was admitted to hospital. Whilst all alone in hospital due to COVID, he was given the most awful news imaginable, that he had stage 4 cancer, with a 2 month life expectancy. The cancer had spread to his pancreas. This had come as a complete and utter shock and we prepared ourselves to support him and make the most of the time we had left with our gentle giant.

Simon put up the greatest fight, tried every treatment possible, however alternative it may have been, to fight this awful disease.

Simon beat the odds and gave us 13 more months to make some truly special memories. 

In that time, we celebrated our long awaited wedding, Christmas’ in the garden, early birthday celebrations, a final family holiday and some truly hilarious nights involving THC.

Simon may have lost his fight but we hope that through all of the generous donations, his battle with cancer will not be in vain.

More information about The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity: From ten operating sites across Merseyside and Cheshire we make almost 221,000 patient contacts to over 30,000 patients a year, offering pioneering chemotherapy, radiotherapy and proton therapy treatments.The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity is the only dedicated charity for patients and research at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre. By choosing to support our charity, you will help us to improve patient experience, fund vital research, the latest therapies and innovations in cancer treatment.

Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to both of our families.