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Morecambe father and son with cancer to take part in parachute jump for hospice

Mal Neill

A father and son who both have cancer will take part in a tandem parachute jump to raise funds for St John's Hospice.

Mal and Thomas Neill will do the free fall jump on September 14 in aid of the Lancaster hospice.

Mal has terminal prostate cancer and Thomas, 24, has a rare strain of incurable B-cell Hodgkins lymphoma.

The Neills will jump in collaboration with Lancaster and Morecambe Armed Forces Day 2025, at the Black Knights parachute centre in Cockerham.

It will be followed by a fundraising day at The Exchange pub in Morecambe, with live music and raffles and auctions. Donations of prizes can be left at the Berkeley Hotel, run by Mal and his wife Colette.

This wil be Mal's fourth fundraising event in 12 months and so far, he has raised more than £33,000.

You can donate at his Justgiving page HERE.

Mal is pictured below during a charity walk in January.

"In 2022 Thomas was diagnosed with a rare strain of incurable B-cell Hodgkins Lymphoma cancer which can't be cured but is not immediately life threatening," said Mal.

"He could live a decent long life but will require treatment as and when needed.

"In June 2024 I was diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer that had already spread into my bones so i can't be cured.

"I am currently on limited life expectancy. I am therefore fulfilling things on our bucket list.

"If I am unable to jump on medical grounds, Thomas will still jump in both our names.

"The hospice is only able to offer the assistance by public donations as they are not fully funded by the NHS.

"It will be a place I will need when the inevitable happens.

"Please help me to help them by donating."

Ex-soldier Mal is pictured below with the Eric Morecambe Statue.

In January, Mal, 69, completed a month-long 62-mile walk for the hospice.

He regularly walked a few miles each evening, joined by family, friends and supporters, ending with a fundraiser at The Exchange.

Read more: Brave hotelier from Morecambe with terminal cancer completes charity walk with six days to spare - Beyond Radio

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