Family of terminally ill man 'blown away' by fundraising

2 hours ago

Joshua AskewSouth East

News image — Amy Hounsome (left) told the BBC she could not believe how the community had responded

Supplied Two women embracing and laughing. They are hugging and wearing colourful accessories. One has a big glass of white wine in her hand. — Amy Hounsome (left) told the BBC she could not believe how the community had responded

The family of a terminally ill man have described being "absolutely blown away" after people raised thousands to help them complete their home renovation.

Amy Hounsome said her husband Dave - who has had a rare form of cancer for years - had become too ill to finish their garden in Farnham, which resembles a building site.

But a friend of the family of four set up a fundraiser to help them pay for professional help, which has generated more than £13,000 so far.

"I just can't believe it," Hounsome told BBC Radio Surrey. "There are no words to express how grateful we are."

"This is going to give us the chance to spend some quality time at home [together]."

'Everyone is in awe'

After undergoing open heart surgery, Hounsome said that a subsequent scan found a tumour on Dave's liver.

"We were just not expecting it at all," she added.

Hounsome said her 42-year-old husband had had surgery and chemotherapy for a number of years, but it had been unsuccessful and they had decided to stop treatment.

"He's just not strong enough to keep trying - it's just not working," she said.

Supplied A garden that looks like a building site. — The family had been trying to complete their garden

Hounsome said that when the family moved to their house in Farnham in October, Dave - who she said had always had a passion for landscaping and plants - decided to tackle the garden as a project he could enjoy working on.

"We're all amazed at the sheer determination and strength of character [he has shown]," she said.

"He's really worked his socks off to get this garden as far along as he possibly can.

"Everyone is in awe. But it's just become too hard.

"Dave felt like he'd failed us as he just wasn't able to finish it for his family, which is tragic."

Supplied Two men drinking beer and laughing. — Hounsome said people were in awe of her husband Dave (left)

Although she said she was initially not that keen on the GoFundMe page set up by her friend Jessica Rosevear, Hounsome said she thought "what's the worst that could happen?"

Rosevear told the BBC the family were "always helping others and they never ask for help".

"[I] felt like [it was] the least I could do," she added.

"Hopefully they'll have the best garden in Farnham."

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