Stephen’s story

In 1987 Stephen Greig’s son, Gary, was diagnosed with a brain tumour. He was just 15. Sadly, Gary died two years later. It was during Gary’s time in hospital that Stephen and his wife Pam met Bob Woodward, one of the founders of our charity. From that moment onwards, they had a lasting connection to our work.

Leaving a gift in his Will for the future generations of young cancer patients felt like a natural thing to do in Gary’s memory.

Here, Stephen shares why Young Lives vs Cancer is so special to him.

Gary’s illness

“We first noticed something wasn’t quite right over Christmas 1987. We were watching TV together and Gary, who was 15 at the time, said ‘there are two TVs’. He pointed to where he was seeing two.

“We contacted the doctor who came out to see Gary. Shortly after, he was rushed to hospital in Bristol and operated on the same day. Gary suffered a haemorrhage during and after the operation and was rushed back to surgery. The consultant told us it wasn’t unusual to need to operate again.

“Slowly Gary got better in hospital. But then we found out Gary had a brain tumour. Pam and I were devastated. It was a very difficult time.

“We were in hospital with Gary for ten weeks. After radiotherapy he eventually stopped having haemorrhages and things got better. Gary had scans regularly and things were looking good, until 18 months later when he had a seizure.

“We called the hospital straight away. We arrived to find them waiting for us and just like that Gary was back in the operating theatre. I spoke with the neurosurgeon and asked him to be open and honest with me, so that I could prepare for what may come. Gary was given a prognosis of 18 months to live and told to live a normal life. He lived this every single day. Gary knew something was wrong, but he never contemplated that his brain tumour would take his life, we protected him from that.

“On 20 October 1989, the surgeons told us they couldn’t operate any more. We held Gary’s hand throughout the night and into the early hours of the morning, and at 8.30am we held his hand when he passed away.”

Meeting Bob

“During the time Gary was first in hospital, Pam and I met Bob Woodward when he came round the ward. He stood by us with a CLIC collection tin and sat down to have a chat. From that moment, we grew a friendship and Bob would sit with us for hours, trying to make Pam and I feel better whilst Gary was asleep.

“It’s because of Bob’s kindness and compassion back then that our support of the wonderful work done by Young Lives vs Cancer began. Bob told us he was selling some pin badges – all he wanted was £1. I bought a badge which I have carried or worn every day since – it is pinned on the inside of my wallet or in the collar of my coat and that badge comes with me everywhere I go. I had no idea it would turn into something so special to me. The badge to me symbolises Young Lives vs Cancer in its infancy. I treasured it. For the memory of my son and my memory of Bob, because he was kind, and he knew what it was like to have a child with cancer.”

Support from the charity

“Bob and the charity helped us in so many ways. They gave us a place to stay at Frenchay Hospital – Lodge House. We were one of the first to stay there. Bob had just opened CLIC House and renovated it to be a Home from Home for families.

“Bob and his wife came to Gary’s funeral, which meant so much to us.”

Making a lasting difference

“I feel so proud that I have included a gift in my Will for Young Lives vs Cancer. It seemed such a natural way to carry on our support.

“I’m not rich, but when I die, I know that my gift will make a lasting difference to families in the future. It is something important to me.

“It’s important because Young Lives vs Cancer supports so many children, like they did with Gary. The money I leave can really help other families in the future in more need, and that’s why I am doing it and to continue Gary’s memory.”

CLIC House

“Recently I visited CLIC House in Bristol. It was a beautiful, strange experience. We sat down and talked about all my memories, and I looked around the Home from Home and got a wonderful feel for the place. It was an emotional visit – to think back to memories of Bob Woodward.

“Gary died at 17, he had a good life. He loved BMX racing, he had medals and loved swimming, sports and computers. I still cry today in my grief. I have a picture of Gary, and my wife Pam, who died a few years ago, by my bedside. I say goodnight to them both every night.

“The visit brought me full circle. I will forever be thankful for the kindness and support given by CLIC during Gary’s illness all that time ago. Leaving a gift in my Will to Young Lives vs Cancer is my way of saying thank you. I know that Pam would have felt so happy that in doing this, we are helping other families in the future who will be going through what we did during Gary’s illness.”