Statistics show 1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetimes, and in truth, we are all affected by it at some point. This became a reality for TECHSiL last year as we lost one of our own; John Wiggins.  John fought a valiant 11 year battle with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in December 2022. He is survived by his son, Matt, and wife, Michele. Many of you will have known John very well, having been with TECHSiL for 5 years since the M-Tec acquisition, and with M-Tec for over 40 years before that. John has left a huge gap both professionally and personally within the TECHSiL Team and is greatly missed.

Charlie, in our Accounts Team (who incidentally celebrated her 10 Year Anniversary with TECHSiL recently) has also been directly affected by this cruel disease. Recently fighting breast cancer into remission, and being given the all clear in August 2022.

In memory of John and in support of Charlie, TECHSiL intend to lace up their running shoes and take on an inflatable 5km course in Stratford upon Avon in October, even the Directors are taking part(!). We will be running to raise money for 2 cancer charities. The first is The Royal Marsden Hospital, a charity which was very close to John’s heart.

“The Royal Marsden helped our family a lot in 2022. It’s fair to say they are the reason we got as long with John as we did. They were kind, caring, empathetic, and were always happy to help with anything we needed. The nurses do a fantastic job there, and we got to know them over the months John spent in their care, be that at Sutton or Chelsea. We couldn’t think of a better charity to raise money for in John’s honour.

John was first diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 2011, and it shook our whole world. He didn’t complain and he always thought about others over himself. He had his treatment, and went into remission, before relapsing a further couple of times. In all the years of pain and suffering, John never forgot to laugh and smile, and embrace and enjoy life for what it was. Through multiple chemotherapy sessions, 3 stem cell transplants, and everything else with his health, he was still our John.

Our world feels empty without him, and the hole he has left in our lives is something we are still adapting to everyday, but one thing we want to do is make him proud, and to do this in his memory is an honour. Those who knew John never forgot him, and his legacy lives on through his family.” Words from Michele and Matt, John’s Wife and Son.

Any money raised for The Royal Marsden Hospital goes solely to help them continue to be there for everyone who needs them, helping them to make faster diagnosis and best treatments available for all, providing personalised care with pioneering equipment and to fund clinical trials to bring about breakthroughs in cancer treatment.

The second charity we will be running for is Cancer Research UK, where donations and support help them to fund life-saving research and make progress in area’s such as understanding ethnic difference in diagnosing cancer, growing an international task force on cancer early detection, influencing the Government that cancer won’t wait and celebrating a world-first with progress against cervical cancer.

When Charlie received her diagnosis in October 2021 she found the Doctor’s and Oncology team looking after her were full steam ahead, due to research and discoveries made in the last 10 years by CRUK she was offered a new drug which granted her the opportunity to live a full life she may not have had a decade ago. Charlie feels Cancer Research UK need and deserve every penny they can get to give more people the hope and chance she was given.

On the day, John’s family will be there cheering us on, his Son is joining the TECHSiL Team for the day and running beside us in memory of his Dad. Charlie’s family will also be with us.

We’re hoping it will be a joyous event which will allow us to come together as a team to do something in John’s memory, show our solidarity with Charlie and all others affected by cancer whilst raising money for the continued research into fighting cancer and supportive therapies provided to those suffering. TECHSiL’s parent Company, Diploma PLC has a fundraising scheme where they will match any money raised for charity £1 for £1 so if you are able to support us by making a donation, it’s likely to be doubled thanks to Diploma.

Donate to The Royal Marsden Hospital

Donate to Cancer Research UK