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My son, David Drysdale, CEO of Fathers' Network Scotland (http://www.fathersnetwork.org.uk/), was admitted to the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, on 19th March 2015 after investigations into severe back pain.  The diagnosis was Ewing's Sarcoma - normally seen only in young adults:  David was 49 at the time.  It left him paralysed from the waist down and he spent most of the next 15 months in Ward 3 at the WGH receiving 14 batches of very aggressive chemotherapy.  During this time, he showed remarkable courage and fortitude, looking forward to returning to work sometime in the summer of 2016, albeit it in a wheelchair. 

In January of this year, the original tumour seemed to have disappeared and he began rehabilitation at the Astley Ainslie Hospital.  He was making good progress when a spot on his right lung was detected during one of his routine scans.  It was cancer.  A new regime of chemo was started at the WGH, but it proved ineffective and it was clear that David was unable to continue with the treatment.  He was transferred to the Marie Curie Hospice on 3rd June and passed away on 4th July.  He retained his positive attitude until the end, supported by his loving family, Misol, Manow and Maya.  The care he received at the Hospice was excellent and we were very pleased that after the funeral service, donations to Marie Curie exceeded £1000.

However, Judy and I are very anxious to recognise the superb care he received in Ward 3 at the Western General Hospital over such an extended period.   This is the reason I am taking advantage of a fundraising event on 18th September 2016 organised by the University of Edinburgh - abseiling 141 ft from the top of the David Hume Tower, George Square.  I am seeking sponsorship to raise funds to support the outstanding work of Dr Larry Hayward, the Consultant Medical Oncologist in charge of David's treatment (and with whom David went to Boroughmuir High School!) and his colleagues.   Our target is £2,500, but we have high hopes that this can be exceeded.  We will be very grateful for any amount you are able to donate to support this essential area of work, although we are aware that many of you who are reading this have already made contributions, either to Marie Curie, or to a fund set up by Tony Wilkinson of the Mankind Project (of which David was Centre Manager before becoming CEO of Fathers' Network Scotland) to provide financial support to help David's family relocate to a new flat.  

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