Family of Arran Gauntlett, who died 42 days after cancer diagnosis, to raise money for Brain Tumour Research with sponsored walk from Maidstone to Folkestone
19:04, 30 July 2021
updated: 19:27, 30 July 2021
The family of a 30-year old man who had just 42 days to come to terms with a terminal cancer diagnosis are raising funds in his memory.
Arran Lloyd Gauntlett from Maidstone had been battling MS for four years but sadly passed away on June 10 after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.
His mother Sarah-Jane Knight described her son as a courageous and brave man who never stopped smiling even through his illness.
To raise funds for charity Brain Tumour Research, Ms Knight and Mr Gauntlett's girlfriend Hollie will be taking on a sponsored walk from their home in Maidstone to Folkestone, a place they say he loved most.
They hope to raise awareness of Glioblastoma, the type of cancer Mr Gauntlett had which is fast-growing, aggressive and incurable - so no other families have to experience the heartbreaking loss.
Speaking on the GoFundMe page, Ms Knight said: "42 days, that's all we had together from diagnosis before Arran closed his eyes and slipped away.
"It broke my heart in ways I didn't know it could break, the tears flooded from my eyes and my words seemed stuck, unable to come out.
"His laugh was so contagious, he would light up every room..."
"But Arran looked at me and when asked by the Oncologist if he understood what she had said he replied, "Yes, I have a tumour and there's nothing you can do for me".
"She asked how he felt, Arran's reply 'It is what it is'".
From that moment on, Ms Knight said her son showed 'more courage and bravery' than she had ever seen before.
"In those 42 days we had together we made every single second count,"she said.
"We had days out, days in, laughs, smiles, tears but most of all we had love, our love and the love of our family and friends.
"To see the spark in Arran's eyes when everyone was there was so beautiful, even on his darker days when he began to lose the ability to speak.
"Up until the very last minute Arran kept his sense of humour, his laugh was so contagious, he would light up every room, if he laughed, you laughed."
The pair hope to walk five miles a day for seven days from August 23. They plan to finish in Folkestone Harbour.
So far, £335 has been raised out of the £500 target.
To donate, click here.
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