Hundreds have rallied to support a family in making lasting memories after a dad's devastating terminal diagnosis.
The ECHO previously reported how Gareth Dixon began to suffer from fatigue, thirst and ache and pains but struggled to get a GP appointment at his local practice. But when he headed to A&E at Warrington Hospital, he said he was told to chase up his symptoms with his GP.
However, refusing to leave without a blood test, Gareth was eventually given a devastating diagnosis, he was suffering from an aggressive form of cancer - Plasma Cell Leukaemia. Having been told it was terminal, Gareth and his loved ones immediately set out a bucket list of things he wants to complete.
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Launching a fundraiser to help with their mission, the community far and wide has rallied to support the family and help them make lasting memories. Laura Dixon told the ECHO: "The fundraiser has gone mental. We initially thought we'd get to around £3,000 so we could do something with him but it's gone crazy.
"Even complete strangers, not just friends and family, have been donating and leaving lovely messages on the fundraising page and it just touches me. Especially how things are at the moment, not everyone can afford to donate but people have still been putting money on, I'm just amazed."
Gareth's bucket list includes a shark dive, which has kindly been donated by the Blue Planet Aquarium, seeing the Northern Lights, visiting Maine, going on a boat trip and visiting Loch Ness to find the Loch Ness monster. Having already stayed in a real castle and experienced a fishing trip, some of the money raised will now go towards a Go Pro so Gareth can stay in touch with his family while in isolation at the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.
Laura added: "He's at Clatterbridge for four to six weeks for treatment but we can't visit him. I did manage to wave to him from the pavement as his window faces the street and zoomed in on my camera so I could see him. He's got a high dose of chemotherapy treatment and then it will be a stem cell transplant.
"There's no treatment for what he has so they are treating him for myeloma to see if that works. When he comes out of Clatterbridge he's then back under Halton for more chemotherapy and then it's playing it by ear.
"He's still smiling which is just amazing, I can't believe how brave he's been. We want to get him a Go Pro now so he can give us little updates from his room and can stay in touch with us all.
"It's hard for everyone involved. My mum took me out for something to eat to get me out the house and we video called him so he wasn't left out.
"I'd also like to thank Halton and Warrington's haematology department for how good they've been since his treatment started, obviously we had a rocky start in A&E but once he was there, the consultant has been amazing, and the staff at Clatterbridge, they've always kept us in the loop and told us straight up and that's what he wants."
To visit Gareth's fundraising page, which has surpassed its £5,000 target, please click here.
Set up by father-in-law Mike Byrne, it reads: "He is currently undergoing extensive Chemotherapy in preparation for a stem cell transplant. This will require him to be in isolation for a month and result in him being very unwell, there is no guarantee this will work and even if it does result in some remission, it will only be for a short while.
"We hope to get him a Go-Pro, so he can keep us up to date on his progress and because his condition is so rare share some of his experiences to help others. Gaz is a strong young man just about to celebrate his 40th Birthday, as a family we are heartbroken and would love to raise some money for Gareth and my daughter Laura so they can build memories and tick some things off that Gaz would love to do.
"I asked Gareth about this campaign and though a little reluctant at first, he understands that people may want to help. We are looking to raise some money in small donations so that the cumulative effect can let him pay for trips he simply could not afford now as he has lost his income.
"On his wish list, the initial idea he suggested was a bit whacky and we put that down to the cocktail of drugs he is on, but I will share it with you anyway. Travel may be difficult as we have yet to explore the implications of Travel Cover, that said, because Gareth contracted Covid 19 some weeks ago his treatment in hospital has been delayed for about three months, although not ideal and is a setback, it does give him some time to live a little."
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