A YOUNG MAN with terminal cancer has spoken movingly after having a living funeral to say goodbye to his friends and family.

Rob Hale, 33, from Thornbury, recently celebrated what looks certain to be his last Christmas and has now set his heart on being able to celebrate his niece’s second birthday in April.

On Saturday, Rob booked out Cattle Country in Berkeley for a living funeral to celebrate his life with friends and family.

In August 2021, he received stem cell treatment which it was hoped would extend his life by around 18 months following a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukaemia earlier that year.

Following the diagnosis, he created a bucket list which included visiting all the castles in the UK.

However, in the run up to Christmas he received an upsetting medical update, giving him just a few months to live.

During the second weekend in January, his friends surprised him with a trip to Corfe Castle, Dorset.

Rob - who is now urging people to sign up to the stem cell register to help others - spoke about what the living funeral meant to him.

“Saturday's funeral was my chance to say goodbye to everyone and do something big before I go," he said.

"My niece came along and we had a big blow out day.

"My parents can do something more quiet and intimate when it does happen.

“I'd never seen or heard of a living funeral before so I really didn't have any expectations but I was blown away by the love and kindness everyone showed me.

“I told my parents I wanted an event where I could properly say goodbye to everyone.

"Because everyone I have known since childhood have children of their own I wanted to hold it somewhere they could come.

“We booked Cattle Country as it is somewhere I used to go to birthday parties as a kid, and where I knew they could accommodate us all.

“I couldn't go there and not go down the death slides so with a bit of encouragement and a large crowd of spectators I climbed up and gave it one last go, well, twice.

"My legs were very shaky afterwards but it was worth it.

"If I was healthier I might have gone headfirst.

"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 everyone and I can't stress enough how overwhelming it was seeing and feeling the love.

"We may not have stayed in contact over the years but it certainly didn't feel like it then.

“Most people never get the chance to do what we did, 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.”

In a bid to help others, Rob is urging people to sign up to the stem cell register.

"I'm desperate to do something in my last moments that could have an impact on others," he said.

"If I can get anyone to sign up to the stem cell register, I'll feel like I've done something useful with my time."

For more details on stem cells and to join the register go to bit.ly/3GQffWE