Sponsored silence being held for brain tumour sufferer losing his speech

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Alan and partner Jean Blacow, Alan was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour on Christmas Eve 2015.

A Nottinghamshire woman is holding a sponsored silence to highlight her partner’s speech difficulties one year after he was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour.

Jean Blacow, from Sneinton, will start the eight-hour silence at 10.30am on Friday, December 9, to raise money for Nottinghamshire Hospice, where her partner Alan attends day therapy.

Alan Thompson, 62, was diagnosed with the grade-four tumour on Christmas Eve last year and has been receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy ever since.

He attends the hospice on Woodborough Road, Mapperley, twice a week to take part in social activities and receive counselling, medical care and complementary therapies.

Jean said: “The hospice is absolutely brilliant and Alan loves it.

“The staff are patient, passionate, friendly and funny – he calls them ‘his people’.

“I decided to help the hospice because they don’t just help him – they help me – and give carers like me a break.”

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Alan, 62, was diagnosed with the terminal tumour on Christmas Eve last year,

Jean, who owns second-hand bookshop Books and Pieces, in West End Arcade in Nottingham, has already beat her target of £150.

She said: “I decided to do a sponsored silence because the hardest thing for me is shutting up.

“The first person I told gave me £20 out of pure shock and I’ve raised £400 already.

“People have told me I’ll never be able to do it and even Alan has said I have no chance – but I know it is the right thing to do.”

The couple, who have been together for 16 years, will be at the King William IV pub on Eyre Street in Sneinton from 4.30 – 6.30pm on Friday, where there will be a quiz compiled by Jean, and hot dogs and mushy peas for sale.

Jean said: “He loves just being at the hospice in general.

“He’s never been the biggest talker but the tumour makes it hard and sometimes the wrong words come out.

“He counts his blessings that he can still walk as unfortunately many people who go to the hospice can’t.”

Donations can be made via Jean’s Just Giving page or in person by visiting the bookshop.