My Dad was diagnosed with lung cancer in January 2007 and died less than a month later.

His death was such a shock as his initial prognosis was good. We are still coming to terms with the fact that he is physically no longer with us. However, his love and strength of character will always be with us. Also, the way in which he approached his illness and choice of treatment was and still is, an inspiration to us all.
 
My Dad had smoked up until 11 years before his death. He had tried to give up so many times but found it incredibly difficult, as so many do. However, he found the strength to give up completely in 1996 and tried to reverse or at least halt the effects of a lifetime of smoking by focusing on healthy eating, health supplements and daily exercise.
 
His quality of life in what were to be his final years was great. He was a loving husband, Dad and Grandad and lived long enough to enjoy 3 of his grandchildren and also met and held his 4th grandchild, born just 2 weeks before he died. His grandchildren lit up his life and they, like us, miss him dearly. 'Grandad To', as they called him, lives on in them and us and we are so thankful to have had him in our lives.
 
We could focus on what could have been. However, I know that my Dad would be very proud to know that in his name, money is being raised to combat this disease. More importantly for my Dad however, would be to know that if one person could stop or better still, resist the temptation to start smoking, his death would not be in vain.