A terminally ill woman has experienced the 'best day ever' ahead of what could be her last Christmas - a day filled with driving a supercar, feeding giraffes, and being surprised by her favourite pop star.
Ashley Smith, a 34 year old mum-of-two, had been cancer-free for two years, but tragically, the disease has returned and is now classified as Stage 4 secondary breast cancer. To make the run-up to Christmas special, Ashley and her family were gifted a bucket list experience.
Part of Ashley's bucket list was to spend the day in and around London with her husband Alex and their two children, aged 12 and 10. The dream day kicked off with afternoon tea at the regal Rubens at the Palace, which boasts views of Buckingham Palace. As they enjoyed their meal, the family received a surprise visit from Duncan James of Blue.
The pop star spent the afternoon sharing tea with the family. He said: "It was such a privilege to meet Ashley and her family and surprise her! Her face was a picture when I walked in. She’s a wonderful woman, wife and mother going through a really tough time at the moment and knowing I brought a smile to her face made me really happy. It was a really special day and we’ve swapped numbers and I hope to see her again soon".
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Simon Jacobs/PinPep / SWNS)Ashley, from Worcester, added: "Meeting Duncan James was a particular highlight - me and my mum are the biggest fans and my mum is even saved in my phone as ‘Duncan James’. To meet him in person was completely surreal but just as incredible. It was the best day of my life."
The next part of the day, organised by Red Letter Days in collaboration with Willow Foundation, saw Ashley and her family whisked off to a supercar driving experience, where they got to race around the track at breakneck speeds. As die-hard Formula 1 fans, Ashley and Alex were thrilled to experience the thrill of high-speed racing in some of the world's most advanced supercars.
The day concluded with a tour of the giraffe house at Woburn Safari Park, where they had the rare opportunity to get up close and personal with the long-necked creatures, including the UK's oldest giraffe. Ashley shared: "It is so important for me to have as many memories as I possibly can with my family."
"We're huge animal lovers and F1 fans so the day was exactly what we wanted, and we made special memories that will last forever." The gifting experience company also conducted research revealing that one in six people fear this Christmas may be their last with a loved one.
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Simon Jacobs/PinPep / SWNS)A survey of 2,000 adults found that 82 per cent of these individuals are determined to make this festive season extra special for those friends and family who might not be around in the future. Half (49 per cent) plan to spend more quality time with them and 38 per cent aim to give them a meaningful and personalised gift.
A hefty 70 percent of folks reckon it’s crucial that Christmas gifts make lasting memories, a study has found. A Red Letter Days spokesperson expressed: "Christmas can be an incredibly hard time of year for families who know they’ll be celebrating with a loved one for the last time."
They added: "While the holidays often enhance the pain of loss, they also remind us of the importance of cherishing each moment. Special memories become part of the legacy we hold onto - and carry us through even the most difficult days. Taking the time to make these memories now means we’ll always have a part of them with us, even when they’re gone."
The Macmillan Support Line offers confidential support to people living with cancer and their loved ones. If you need to talk, call us on 0808 808 0000.
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