Jacob Marshall is taking on the Texas Marathon in February 2026 in memory of his Dad, Simon, who was cared for on our inpatient ward earlier this year. Here is his story.
“My Dad was just a really sensitive and caring person. He was larger than life, a big rugby player. He was the type of person everyone relied on, he was a figure of the community. He always would give you a big hug and make you feel safe.
He’d send me memes and GIFs that were so unfunny he’d be in stitches. He’d wear the worst pun t-shirts you can imagine. A typical Dad — completely himself, and we loved that about him.”
But life changed quickly for the family.
“Dad was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer just before his 60th birthday. I was on holiday when I got the call from Mum. I could tell immediately something wasn’t right. Then Dad got on the phone and said, ‘Son, it’s not good news — I have cancer.’ I remember thinking, this must be a mistake — you’re 59, you’re fit, you play rugby. But ten days later, he rang again to tell me it was terminal. Terminal before he was 60. I couldn’t even fathom that.”
Jacob was living in Texas at the time, whilst his Dad was living in the UK, with his wife expecting their first child- Simon’s first grandchild. Simon didn’t want Jacob to fly home so close to the birth but Jacob wanted to spend as much time with him as possible.
“I flew out to surprise him for his 60th. I’m so glad I did — those are memories I’ll cherish forever. I managed to get tickets for Man United vs. his Leicester City, and we spent the whole drive setting the world right and saying the things that mattered. Before I left, I made him promise he’d meet his grandchild at Easter. He kept that promise.”
Whilst Simon was being cared for, the family faced another unimaginable challenge.
“As Dad was becoming sicker, my Mum was diagnosed with cancer too. She was looking after Dad whilst going through cancer herself. Fortunately, she is only at stage 2 and is just finishing chemotherapy but it’s been very aggressive for her too. To have both of your parents have cancer at the same time at the age of 60 is brutal. Imagine that one minute you have just got your dream job, your first child is born and 6 months later both parents have cancer before they retire.”
Despite everything, Simon never lost his humour or spirit.
“He didn’t want a funeral — he wanted a celebration of life while he was still here. He had a party with friends and family, a cake, candles, and he was saying, ‘Yay, I’m still alive!’ That was Dad — funny, brave, and selfless to the end.”
As his illness progressed, Simon was admitted to LOROS.
“He loved it there. He’d tell me how nice everyone was, how kind the staff were, and how it gave him and Mum both a bit of peace. My family said how beautiful it was — the gardens, the food, the little things like always being offered tea and cake. When I last spoke to him, he said it felt like a hotel — he was warm, cared for, and happy. That meant everything.
LOROS has given so much to my parents. When Dad needed it the most, they cared for him, made him smile in an impossible time, made him feel loved and normal, comforted him when he was struggling and brought the family together. They supported my mum emotionally and physically, so she had the time to cope with her own illness. I can’t speak highly enough of their work, and my family and I will be eternally grateful.
I was ready to visit Dad at LOROS and surprise him. He was complaining about the sun so I bought him a Houston baseball cap to bring back for him which I know he’d have loved. However, I got a call about 2 days before I was due to fly that he’d had another haemorrhage and he was told if he had a third he probably wouldn’t survive.
My Sister and Mum were able to be with him. I tried to fly back but I just couldn’t make it back in time. I arrived back in the UK about 12 hours after he died. I was so close.”
Now, Jacob is training through the Texas heat, 30 degrees and rising, for his first full marathon. He’s also gone sober for eight months, determined to push himself both physically and mentally.
“I wanted to do something for LOROS, even though I live so far away. They gave so much to my family. They made Dad feel normal and loved when life was anything but.
I also wanted to do something that wasn’t easy or enjoyable. Dad always wanted me to be the best version of myself. If he could fight for nine months, I can do this. Every mile is for him. I just want to hear him say, ‘Loving your work, son.’
I have a 10-month-old son and a busy job so I have no spare time. I’ve ran some half marathons before but a marathon will be challenging for me. The number of hours I need to dedicate means I need to sacrifice things personally to achieve this.
For anyone who can, please support LOROS, even if it is just a small amount, just remember that the funds you are giving are going towards making people feel loved and comfortable on their very last days on earth. And at the end of the day, what could be more important than that?
You don’t realise how important places like LOROS are until you need them. They made my Dad’s last days peaceful, and for that, I’ll always be grateful.”
