This is James. Yesterday I went long with Dan and Mike our photographer to photograph video and interview him.
Last September James was told he had a particularly aggressive, terminal lung cancer. He was told he had 2 weeks to live. As you can see, he’s made it a long way beyond those 2 weeks.
Brave and bold, James is an amazing guy. Everyone we met who knows him talks of how he has inspired them. He says that the cancer was the best thing that ever happened to him. His message is to practice acceptance, a positive attitude, and keeping things in the day, living every day to the full and focusing on friends and family not the diversions of career and bullshit.
He speaks very eloquently of the great support he’s had from Macmillan, when we got our act together – his words. The first few months he didn’t get the support he needed. He’s inspired me to make sure we continue to do what we do well, but also to do better. Those few months we weren’t there for him could have been his last. Thanks to his courage and fight, he’s still around and now Macmillan is doing loads to support him make the most of his life and to have the happy and dignified death at home he wants.
Look out for what will be an very inspiring video and set of photos.
Update
Sadly James died a couple of weeks after our photo shoot. I’d like to offer our sincere condolences to his friends and family. I’m very grateful that he gave part of one of his last days to help us. I hope his story and photographs will inspire people in his situation, and others to support our cause.
