Health news: Struggling with loss of his mother, Rob Seddon has dedicated himself to fundraising for charity

Published: 21 October 2010
by TOM FOOT

LIFE has not been the same for Rob Seddon since his mother died from cancer two years ago. The 32-year-old telecoms consultant has struggled to cope with the loss. At times overwhelmed he found himself compelled to “do something”.

“She was always so strong,” he explained. “She always had a smile. When she was in oncology, the nurses told me they would put the ladies who were scared of dying on the same ward as her because they knew she would look after them.

“My mum was 57 when she died – I was 30. You just should not lose a mother at my age.

“I’m still struggling. The thing I have real problems with is going back to my dad’s house. I can’t bear to think of him on his own – it kills me.” 

Rob’s mother Susan was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2003.  

She was in remission for four years until the cancer spread to her spine in April 2008 and her liver not long after. She passed away in December 2008.  

Rob, who lives in Finsbury Park, said his family had a history of breast cancer but that tests for a cancer gene proved negative.

He began pouring his energy into volunteering for Breakthrough Breast Cancer (BC) and has become an ambassador for the charity.

He has raised thousands of pounds through long distance runs and fundraising boat parties on the Thames. He used the money to get their mum and aunt’s names engraved on a wall at the charity’s headquarters.

Now the charity has rewarded Mr Seddon for his efforts by screening an image of his mother on one of the famous electronic advertising boards in Piccadilly Circus. 

The image is of Susan playing golf in Cyprus, where she lived at the end of her life with her retired RAF husband.

It is also included in a work of art by British artist Samira Harris. The recreation of Botticelli’s Birth of Venus includes 1,096 images from the BC network – 1,096 is the number of women diagnosed with breast cancer every day.

• For more information visit www.breakthrough.org.uk