Rob says goodbye at 'living funeral'

A SOUTH Gloucestershire man was the guest of honour at his own funeral, after being told he has months to live.

Aerospace engineer Rob Hale, who is 33, arranged the “living funeral” to say goodbye to friends and family.

Rob, from Thornbury, has been fighting cancer for two years – but in December was told he only has months to live. So he decided he wanted to hold a special event and “go with a smile”.

Friends and family gathered at Cattle Country, near Berkeley – an old favourite with Rob for family outings when he was a child.

Rob said the living funeral was his way of thanking those around him.

He said: "I'd never seen or heard of one before so I really didn't have any expectations, but I was blown away by the love and kindness everyone showed me.

"I had told my parents I wanted an event where I could properly say goodbye to everyone - and because everyone I have known since childhood all have children of their own now, I wanted to hold it somewhere they could come.”

Rob became ill in early 2021 with coronavirus, and when his symptoms persisted, he assumed he had long covid.

When he finally sought help, he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia, a form of blood cancer that affects cells in the bone marrow.

He had three bouts of chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant and then stem cell treatment.

In December he put out a plea for more people to donate stem cells.

Writing about the 'living funeral' to the many people who have followed him on Instagram and Facebook, he said: "I am so glad I got to see such a happy funeral rather than the usual sombre sad affair they usually are.

"I really am glad I was given the chance to say goodbye to you all, and I can't stress enough how overwhelming it was seeing and feeling the love.

"Most people never get the chance...to say goodbye properly.

"Death is usually so sudden and final and full of regret for things left unsaid. I feel like when I go, I can go with a smile."

Rob, who had to give up work because of his illness, has also drawn up a bucket list of visiting all the castles in the UK before he dies.

A fundraising page has already topped £4,300 to help pay for the trips.

People can visit Rob’s fundraising page at www.gofundme.com/f/roberts-bucket-list or follow him on Instagram at @robs_cancer_ journey and @robs_final_dance.

To find out more about the stem cell register visit the Anthony Nolan Trust at anthonynolan.org/help-save-a-life/joinstem-cell-register.