Sister walks in memory of Paul

10:41am Friday 7th March 2008

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The sister of a former Barnet Times reporter who died of cancer at the age of 24 is doing a sponsored walk in his memory.

Paul Morris died on March 13 ten years ago, after suffering from Hodgkin's disease, a form of lymphatic cancer, for more than two years.

His sister Lisa, who now lives in Derby, is going to walk five miles to raise money for the Lymphoma Association, which provides emotional support and information to patients and their families, carers and friends.

She will be undertaking the walk, with Paul's mum and dad Dorothy and Roger, on Sunday, March 16.

Paul, who lived with his family in Edgware, was diagnosed with the illness at the age of just 22, after he had been working at the Times Series for some months.

He wrote in the newspaper about what life was like as a young man with cancer and, between painful chemotherapy treatments, he helped local charities raise funds for research into a cure by a team of doctors at the Royal Free Hospital, in Hampstead.

During his treatments, he spoke at a fundraising dinner that raised £17,000 for research into the disease, and said: "I had heard of many diseases before but never bothered to find out about them in the belief that these things happen to other people. I was wrong."

He added that aside from the exhaustion, insomnia, hair loss and nausea of chemotherapy treatment, he had learned from his illness.

He said: "However difficult it may be, it is important not to get too bogged down with the trivial things in life. And secondly to remember Robin Williams' message in the film Dead Poets Society - Carpe Diem - or seize the day, as you never know what's around the corner."

His fiancée, former Hendon Times chief reporter Anna Whitney, said: "Paul was an amazingly positive person who was a joy to know, despite the suffering he lived with. He is still missed every day by those who loved him.

"I know he will be remembered fondly by many, many people in north London. I hope they will dig deep to make a contribution towards research into Hodgkins disease so other young men don't have to suffer what he did."

The majority of cases of Hodgkin's disease are in the 15 to 30 age group, and more men are affected than women. The survival rate is high if the disease is detected early.

There is a consistently higher incidence in Jews, especially those of Eastern European origin.

To make a donation by credit or debit card, log on to the link below.

Alternatively, you can send a cheque or postal order, made payable to Lymphoma Association to: The Lymphoma Association, PO Box 386, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP20 2GA, stating that your donation is for Lisa's walk.