Terminally ill Shrewsbury father's appeal to help complete bucket list

Paul Morris, 36, sat down with his 29-year-old wife Laura earlier this week to draw up the list after they were told by doctors his cancer had spread and his chemotherapy would be stopped.

Top of the list for Paul, who is a big Doctor Who fan, is to meet as many of the cast – past and present – as possible and maybe even feature as an extra in the BBC show.

The Shrewsbury couple also want to renew their wedding vows and take their four children – five-year-old twins Melody and Alexis, two-year-old Arthur and seven-month-old Adelaide – to Disneyland Paris.

Laura said: “He made a bit of a list when he was originally told it was terminal but he had another CT scan recently and it showed the cancer on his liver is fully showing up now.

“At first there was just spots but it’s got worse and it’s got bigger.

“We sat down and decided to think of some more things this week. He said to me, ‘I know it’s not much but I have already got everything I want in life’. It’s so hard.”

The couple, who have been married eight years in May, met while working in the Two Henry’s Pub in Shrewsbury.

“We married in Atcham Church so Paul wants to go back there to renew our vows,” Laura said.

“That is something we can easily do though so I want to focus on getting him to meet previous Doctor Who stars and things like that.

“All of our family and friends are sharing his bucket list on Twitter to try and get the actors to see it but we need as many people as possible to get behind it and help.”

Also on the list is watching the new Avengers: Infinity War movie at the London premiere, setting a world record and running the London Marathon.

Paul shocked his family and friends at the end of last year when he announced his intention to still run the famous race even after his diagnosis.

He is fundraising with a team of six friends who have called themselves ‘Team Moz’. Laura added: “He’s still hoping to run it but if on the day he isn’t feeling very well, we will still go down to see the rest of the team do it.

“The other morning he was in the gym and did 10k on the bike though, so he’s still feeling determined.

“He puts me to shame.”

The fundraising appeal rocketed to more than £1,000 after Match of The Day host Gary Lineker retweeted his story on Twitter.

Paul, who is a street works inspector, added: “Gary Lineker actually donated money too, which was very generous.

"After he tweeted about what I’m doing it went from £200 to way over £1,000. Then some Sheffield Wednesday players started tweeting about it, which is amazing.

“I’m just hoping to connect with local people now. I’m Shrewsbury born and bred and have been here for 36 years so hoping local people will get behind it.

“We’re also looking for local businesses to sponsor us and we will put their logos on our t-shirts and things like that. Any help would be great.”

Lucy Ruff, fundraising manager at Severn Hospice, said: “Paul is a truly inspirational person. It is difficult enough to find the time and the energy to train for a marathon when you have four small young children let alone when you’re having to deal with what Paul is going through.

“The fact that he is thinking of others when he already has so much to contend with himself speaks in volumes about the kind of person he is.”

To donate to Paul’s London Marathon fundraiser visit virginmoneygiving.com/Team/teammoz

Search London Marathon 2018 #TeamMoz on Facebook.