Reaching out to Mike and Emma Kemp

Dear all,

Thank you for coming to our GoFundMe page.   This has been created by myself but on behalf of all of us who love the man in the picture above and his lovely family.  This man is my uncle, Mike Kemp.  He is pictured with my beautiful aunt, Emma, and their three children, my cousins, Ben, Megan and Julia.

Mike was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer last November.  It came out of the blue without warning.  Before his diagnosis Mike was a healthy, very fit person, who loved running in the French mountains near their home, ate well and never smoked or did any of the things you are always told not to do.  He fought hard against the cancer but finally had to accept this battle was not one he could win 3 weeks ago, in early March, just 4 months on from his original diagnosis.  Our family have all been devastated by this and want to be able to do something, even small, to be able to help in this heart-breaking time. We are doing this by raising money to help my aunt and cousins with his final care and onward costs.

Mike is now receiving palliative care at a wonderful hospice in Geneva called Maison de Tara. This space is one of the most beautiful places to be in. It’s full of light, love, nature, spirit and life. He, Emma and their lovely children are all being taken care of by the generous people who volunteer there. 

Mike’s French medical insurance doesn’t cover his care and stay at Maison de Tara, which is on the Swiss side of the border. While Tara has very kindly waived some of their fees, there remain other costs that still need to be paid.

Money we raise will be used for:

· Palliative care - nursing, services, pain relief medication, and equipment.

· Celebration of Mike’s life and funeral costs

· Household expenses and bills while Mike is in the hospice and while the family is grieving

We don’t know how long Mike will be here for, nor how long any money raised will last. If funds raised are left over after his death, Emma has said she will manage remaining funds in Mike’s honour. This will include a legacy donation to Maison de Tara. (You can read more about Tara and see some photos of where Mike is by going to: http://www.lamaisondetara.ch/)

On behalf of Mike, Emma, Ben, Megan and Julia, THANK YOU. No amount is too little or too much.