Now, alongside completing her training to become a nurse, Alice is now also training to become a Cancer Champion, taking part in Lingen Davies events like the Colour Run and charity Ball and raising money and awareness in any way she can – all in her dad’s memory.
Alice said: “The Lingen Davies Cancer Centre was a huge part of Dad’s life, and the charity has a huge impact on those who come into contact with it.
“Dad left a legacy because he wanted to make sure it remains available to everyone else. We’re all determined to keep supporting Lingen Davies in Dad’s memory, I want to do more and hope to share my story.
“Going into the Cancer Centre has really altered my perception of cancer, seeing it for myself and working with the charity. Lingen Davies really is about being part of a community. Cancer is everywhere, there’s no getting away from it, but it’s important to have a real laugh about things as well and make fundraising fun. Dad approached everything with a sense of humour which was very important.
“When dad went through it, there was never a time when he didn’t know what was happening, everyone went above and beyond for him. He wanted to make sure that the services are the same for other people to come, for him to live on even though he has gone.”
Marc went through three plans of treatment before it was decided there was nothing else that could be done so he and his family enjoyed their last 14 months together – they travelled to Jordan, Rome, Spain, and London and had a ‘wonderful’ last Christmas together, with fireworks on Boxing Day and all the family together playing music and games.
“We really made the most of it,” Alice said.
“We were given notice that the end was coming really, and it was nice to know he wasn’t taken from us suddenly.
“We’d always done lots together like travelling and we kept going, we carried on as normal really.
“We raised money for Lingen Davies as a family and throughout his treatment he really just wanted to spread joy.”
And Alice said joy is a large part of her dad’s legacy too – he cheered other people up by wearing bright shirts to his treatment, then chatted and smiled to everyone there.
When fundraising, Alice said she is aware it will always be sad but that she and her family can ‘have a bit of a laugh with it’ as well as raising money and awareness by sharing on social media.
The family all took part in a Lingen Davies Colour Run after Marc had died and she said it was brilliant and ‘fabulous fun’.
“Dad would have loved it and laughed his way through it,” she added.
Marc left four children and three grandchildren Amelia, Indie and Harper. He shared with his four children his desires for his Will and where his money would be left, including to Lingen Davies Cancer Fund.
Get involved in one of our fundraising events – have fun whilst helping to raise money for the Lingen Davies Cancer Fund.