A man who lost his wife and daughter to breast cancer within three years has shared his moving story as he helps a charity celebrate a major achievement.
Bowthorpe-based Little Lifts has supported thousands of people undergoing treatment for breast cancer across the region.
The charity today sent its 20,000th care box, to a patient at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.
On hand to send the latest batch was Graham Upson, 75, who lost both his wife, Natalie, and his daughter, Alice, to breast cancer and experienced the impact that the care boxes have.
Graham, with his wife Natalie (left) and daughter Alice (Image: Little Lifts)
"My wife was diagnosed in 2015 and died in 2019," said Mr Upson.
"I was with her when she received a Little Lifts box from Dr Alexander at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital while undergoing chemotherapy.
"My daughter Alice then had her first baby in June 2021, Reuben.
"Whilst trying to establish breastfeeding him, she discovered pain and was then diagnosed with stage four triple negative breast cancer in September 2021.
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"She was given 12 months to live.
"We lost Alice in September 2022.
"She had received both a chemotherapy and radiotherapy box from Little Lifts during her treatment."
Alice was 31 when she died.
Graham, with charity founder Oa, packed the van with the boxes (Image: Denise Bradley)
Mr Upson, who lives in Loddon. reached out to Little Lifts in April 2022 to thank them for the boxes that his wife and daughter received and to find a way that he could give something back.
"I soon enrolled as a volunteer," he said. "Taking part in fashion shows, driving the Little Lifts van to make hospital deliveries and packing boxes.
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"I am retired and have lived on my own since the passing of my wife.
"Volunteering for Little Lifts gives me an outlet to meet new people and feel supported by others whose lives have been affected by breast cancer."
The packages go to those undergoing breast cancer treatment (Image: Denise Bradley)
Oa Hackett founded the charity in 2016, after undergoing treatment for primary breast cancer in 2014, aged 28.
Her experience inspired the care boxes, which are filled with goodies to help lift spirits.
Those interested in sending a box to someone can find more information at littlelifts.org.
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