Warrington dad's dying wish to take kids on final 'dream holiday'

A fundraising page has been set up by his best friend to help make his wish become a reality.

Mark Blakeson, a pub chef from Fearnhead, was given the devastating diagnosis of terminal brain cancer in February, at the young age of 38 – having had no previous symptoms.

His best friend Jodhi Taylor, who set up a fundraising page to support his dream, spoke to the Warrington Guardian about how the diagnosis came about.

“He was diagnosed with an astrocytoma brain tumour in February this year,” the full-time nurse explained.

Mark plays in the Golborne Brass Band as a hornet player (Image: Supplied) “He plays in the Golborne Brass Band, and he was playing in the band one afternoon when he collapsed and had a seizure and was taken to hospital. They found out then that he had a brain tumour.”

Doctors operated on the tumour but were only able to take out part of it, Jodhi added.

Mark then underwent radio therapy which sadly ‘did not work’ and he was told that the tumour would grow back ‘more aggressively’.

“He has been given a life expectancy of around two years and will now have to have chemotherapy in tablet form as a preventative indefinitely.”

Having worked as a chef for many years, Mark was based in the kitchen at Station House pub in Padgate up until having to leave to start his cancer treatment this year.

Mark plays in the Golborne Brass Band as a hornet player (Image: Supplied) And now unable to work, his friend is attempting to raise enough money to achieve his wish of taking his two children, Phoebe, 14, and Alfie, 10, on a family trip that they will ‘cherish forever’.

“I set a goal on the funding page to raise £2,500, as he wants to take the kids on a dream holiday. Insurance to cover him going away is £2,000 alone.”

Jodhi, who is godmother to both Marks children, revealed that the dad-of-two proudly plays the hornet in the Golborne Brass Band. She told of his excitement when receiving the uplifting news that the band had been crowned champions at the National Brass Band Championships earlier this month.

Recalling how the pair first met and became life-long friends, she said: “We met in 2007. I moved up to Warrington for a boy – I am originally from down south. I got a job at the Green Dragon pub in Lymm, and he started working at the pub at a similar time.

“I started a degree in nursing at the Warrington Chester University campus, but unfortunately the guy I was living with began to be really abusive.

Mark (right) pictured with best friends Dan (far left) and Jodhi (middle) (Image: Supplied) “I told Mark what was going on and he said I could come and live with him and his partner at the time. He took me in and if it was not for him, I would have had to drop out of university and wouldn’t have been able to qualify as a nurse – that is the kind of person he is.”

The 36-year-old highlighted her concerns for her friend and how the brain tumour may affect him over time. “I want to make this happen as soon as possible for him and the kids while he is still okay and well enough to go.

"The past year has been awful, he is doing very well at the moment but it was awful at the start for him. I think we are all struggling with it more than him now as he seems to have accepted it."

To help Mark and donate to the cause, visit the funding page here.

The moment he found out the Golborne Brass Band had won the nationals (Image: Supplied)