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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Kelly-Ann Mills

'Helpless' wife desperate for 'forever home' as husband battles cancer for second time

A wife whose family lost their home when her self-employed husband got cancer is appealing for donations so they can afford a deposit for a house.

Jan Walmsley and husband Rob were declared bankrupt after he was unable to work throughout his throat cancer treatment in 2006 and lost everything - including their home.

Mum-of-two Jan is now keen to get some stability for their family as Rob is now battling with another cancer diagnosis - this time in his mouth.

Jan told the Mirror that over the last 17 years her family has had a really rough time and never felt like they had a stable place to live, as they had been forced to rent ever since.

Jan and Rob want to buy a "forever home" after 17 tough years (Jan Walmsley)
Rob during his cancer treatment (Jan Walmsley)

The family including the couple's sons Joshua, now 16 and Jake, 14, has lived in Spain, Portugal, Chesterfield and Devon before settling in Nottingham to be close to Rob's family.

Jan, 52, has set up a Go Fund Me page in a bid to raise £70,000 so she and Rob can buy a "forever home" and not keep spending £1,400 a month on rent to their landlord.

Although given the all clear for a second time after having his mouth cancer removed, Rob, 61, has been left with a hole in the roof of his mouth.

The IT programmer has to wear an obturator - a kind of plate - to seal the hole into his nose as he can't eat or drink without as food and drink spilling out of his nose.

Rob is waiting for a skin graft operation to seal the hole in the roof of his mouth.

Jan told the Mirror: "It's been horrific, Rob's had cancer twice and I'm now dreading him having another operation. It's just awful to watch your husband in pain.

"He's really just had enough.

Jan, Rob and their sons Joshua and Jake (Jan Walmsley)

"If anything does happen to him we are worried about losing our home. We are looking for any help for a deposit for a house that can be our forever home."

She addd: "I really don't care about myself, it's for my boys, so that they don't have to move homes again and again.

"I think people will see that we have been through a really rough time and we just need a break. It has been just one thing after another.

"I have to look after my husband and kids and I thought what else can I do, I feel helpless so why not ask people for help if they can.

"We've not had many donations so far, so that's a bit sad.

"I know times are hard for people, I'm not begging but if people can help me take this stress and burden off Rob.

"To know his family is safe and secure, that would be a great help."

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