Barry's story

Barry still remembers the date, 11 November, as if it is carved into him. Jason was only thirty-three when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and thirty-four when he died.

“I knew from the moment they told us it was aggressive and they couldn’t operate, I knew,” Barry shared.

“The hospital staff tried everything. The tumour shrank, there was hope, there was surgery, then more chemotherapy. Then a doctor told us my son had three months to live and his immediate response was that it is what it is.”

Jason had always loved life. Mischievous and endlessly sociable, he studied economics, before becoming an accountant. Music and sport filled his spare time, alongside running. He was training for his fourth marathon when his health suddenly declined.

“He’d have chemotherapy and be completely wiped out, but then he’d get up and try to walk further the next day,” Barry remembered.

“When they told him he was going to die, he wrote a wish list, which included Las Vegas with twenty-four friends and diving with great white sharks off Cape Town. He was not going to let cancer dominate every memory and I was lucky enough to be with him for the South Africa trip.”

To avoid repeating himself and to channel his thoughts into something meaningful, Jason began recording weekly updates online, speaking directly to friends about fear and hope and simultaneously raised £200,000 for The Royal Marsden Hospital via a charity he began called No Surrender. This figure grew to £1m after his death.

“He wanted his experience to mean something. He wanted better research, better treatment", Barry admitted.

And since Jason’s death, his family has generously assisted with fundraising efforts.

“Losing a child is not meant to happen,” Barry admitted.

“You never get over it. But you can choose to help. Sadly, Jason’s story isn’t unique and everyone at least deserves the best care at the worst time. That’s why we do it. And I think Jason would be pleased.”