The Big Walk 2023 in Memory of Paul Skyrme
Liam Howells
My Story
On Sunday the 9th of July 2023 I will be taking part in a 6.5 mile walk as part of Wales’ Biggest Walking Weekend “The Big Walk” - Carmarthenshire. This will include walking 26 miles in the month of July. Raising money for Prostate Cymru.
As most of you know my Father-in-Law Paul Skyrme battled with Prostate Cancer and sadly passed on May the 12th this year.
Paul was a huge part of my life and taught me many things during the time I knew him. He encouraged me to push and challenge myself at any chance I could. I am forever greatful for the knowledge he shared with me, the things he encouraged me to try, the confidence he pushed me to gain and for the unforgettable and special memories we all made as a family.
Paul was truly an amazing man that was taken way too soon at the younge age of 56.
If you would like to read more about Paul and his incredably hard battle with Cancer please read below. Otherwise the link to donate is: https://prostatecymru.enthuse.com/pf/liam-howells
After having a decline in his health and feeling that he was ‘slowing down’, finding his normal day to day activities more challenging than usual, Paul was diagnosed back in September 2020 with Stage 4 Metastatic Prostate Cancer. This meant that the cancer had already metastasised (spread) to his bones.
By November 2020 he was paralysed from the waste down due to a tumor that was crushing his spinal cord. This had not been picked up on scans. He was told he would never walk again.
Paul did not like that diagnosis and worked tirelessly during his stay in hospital and worked so hard with the physiotherapists to improve his mobility.
March 2021 came and Paul was finally allowed home and we got to see him for the first time since November 2020. Christmas apart was hard but my daughter, Olivia, loved finally having her Grampy home and getting to dance to ‘Thunderstruck’ with him again.
Pauls mobility started to improve as the months went on and we all started to make more memories as a family and by October 2022 my Sister-in-Law and Brother-in-Law-to-be welcomed Pauls second Granddaughter - Amber. During this time Pauls treatment was stopped to allow him to have a break and spend some time without the awful side effects of his treatment. But as always he was optimistic and so thankful that he was still here and getting to make memories with his growing family.
By January 2023 his pain was back… getting worse and not improving with pain meds. We all knew it meant some more vigorous treatment. So he comenced with his 9th type of treatment and ultimately his final course of Chemotherapy.
Paul never gave up. He faught till the end. On Tuesday the 9th of May, Paul started to feel unwell, as he had a few times in the last few months so both him and Yvonne (my Mother-in-Law) knew that it meant he would need to go to hospital again. We all thought it was just another hurdle he would need to get over.
By the Wednesday, he was very unwell and Yvonne called an ambulace to take him to hospital, when it finally arrived they got him to the hospital and we all thought thats where he would be for a few days to get better.
Thursday came and he started to feel slightly better but asked Yvonne if she could arrange for ‘the kids’ to come and see him in hospital. Everyone went to see him. Although I did not. I went to collage as he wanted me to. To attend the Welding course he was proud of me for joining. I said to Emma, my wife, that I would come with her after work on Friday to see him.
Sadly, Paul passed on that Friday morning, before any of us could be there with him.
We all miss Paul so much and he has left a huge gap in all of our lives, he will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege to know him.
I am doing this walk as a ‘stepping stone’ to hopefully one day run a marathon in his name. I want his name to be remembered and hope that maybe one man will think to get checked and save their family this heartache of seeing a loved one go through this.
Thank you for reading just a small part of Pauls story and for donating to my page.
Donation link is: https://prostatecymru.enthuse.com/pf/liam-howells
SaveTheMalesInWales #ProstateCymru #FightProstateCancer #TogetherWeFight #TogetherWeMakeADifference #ProstateCancer #LetsTalkAboutIt #GetCheckedStaySafe #PaulSkyrme
I am walking in the month of July to support men in Wales with Prostate cancer!
Did you know Prostate Cancer affects 1 in 8 men, and the risk increases to 1 in 3 with a family history?
The charities key aims are:
- Raising awareness
- Support services for those suffering with prostate health and their families
- Training & supporting medical professionals
- Research & innovation projects
- Improving medical equipment for treatments in Wales
Please support me by donating to this great cause!
Help us #SaveTheMalesInWales
-
Target
£1,100
-
Raised so far
£1,045
-
Number of donors
36
My Story
On Sunday the 9th of July 2023 I will be taking part in a 6.5 mile walk as part of Wales’ Biggest Walking Weekend “The Big Walk” - Carmarthenshire. This will include walking 26 miles in the month of July. Raising money for Prostate Cymru.
As most of you know my Father-in-Law Paul Skyrme battled with Prostate Cancer and sadly passed on May the 12th this year.
Paul was a huge part of my life and taught me many things during the time I knew him. He encouraged me to push and challenge myself at any chance I could. I am forever greatful for the knowledge he shared with me, the things he encouraged me to try, the confidence he pushed me to gain and for the unforgettable and special memories we all made as a family.
Paul was truly an amazing man that was taken way too soon at the younge age of 56.
If you would like to read more about Paul and his incredably hard battle with Cancer please read below. Otherwise the link to donate is: https://prostatecymru.enthuse.com/pf/liam-howells
After having a decline in his health and feeling that he was ‘slowing down’, finding his normal day to day activities more challenging than usual, Paul was diagnosed back in September 2020 with Stage 4 Metastatic Prostate Cancer. This meant that the cancer had already metastasised (spread) to his bones.
By November 2020 he was paralysed from the waste down due to a tumor that was crushing his spinal cord. This had not been picked up on scans. He was told he would never walk again.
Paul did not like that diagnosis and worked tirelessly during his stay in hospital and worked so hard with the physiotherapists to improve his mobility.
March 2021 came and Paul was finally allowed home and we got to see him for the first time since November 2020. Christmas apart was hard but my daughter, Olivia, loved finally having her Grampy home and getting to dance to ‘Thunderstruck’ with him again.
Pauls mobility started to improve as the months went on and we all started to make more memories as a family and by October 2022 my Sister-in-Law and Brother-in-Law-to-be welcomed Pauls second Granddaughter - Amber. During this time Pauls treatment was stopped to allow him to have a break and spend some time without the awful side effects of his treatment. But as always he was optimistic and so thankful that he was still here and getting to make memories with his growing family.
By January 2023 his pain was back… getting worse and not improving with pain meds. We all knew it meant some more vigorous treatment. So he comenced with his 9th type of treatment and ultimately his final course of Chemotherapy.
Paul never gave up. He faught till the end. On Tuesday the 9th of May, Paul started to feel unwell, as he had a few times in the last few months so both him and Yvonne (my Mother-in-Law) knew that it meant he would need to go to hospital again. We all thought it was just another hurdle he would need to get over.
By the Wednesday, he was very unwell and Yvonne called an ambulace to take him to hospital, when it finally arrived they got him to the hospital and we all thought thats where he would be for a few days to get better.
Thursday came and he started to feel slightly better but asked Yvonne if she could arrange for ‘the kids’ to come and see him in hospital. Everyone went to see him. Although I did not. I went to collage as he wanted me to. To attend the Welding course he was proud of me for joining. I said to Emma, my wife, that I would come with her after work on Friday to see him.
Sadly, Paul passed on that Friday morning, before any of us could be there with him.
We all miss Paul so much and he has left a huge gap in all of our lives, he will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege to know him.
I am doing this walk as a ‘stepping stone’ to hopefully one day run a marathon in his name. I want his name to be remembered and hope that maybe one man will think to get checked and save their family this heartache of seeing a loved one go through this.
Thank you for reading just a small part of Pauls story and for donating to my page.
Donation link is: https://prostatecymru.enthuse.com/pf/liam-howells
SaveTheMalesInWales #ProstateCymru #FightProstateCancer #TogetherWeFight #TogetherWeMakeADifference #ProstateCancer #LetsTalkAboutIt #GetCheckedStaySafe #PaulSkyrme
I am walking in the month of July to support men in Wales with Prostate cancer!
Did you know Prostate Cancer affects 1 in 8 men, and the risk increases to 1 in 3 with a family history?
The charities key aims are:
- Raising awareness
- Support services for those suffering with prostate health and their families
- Training & supporting medical professionals
- Research & innovation projects
- Improving medical equipment for treatments in Wales
Please support me by donating to this great cause!
Help us #SaveTheMalesInWales
