Father-of-two, 51, watches football match from deathbed after being given just weeks to live 

Poignant moment a father-of-two, 51, watches charity football match held in his honour from his deathbed after being diagnosed with terminal cancer and given just weeks to live

  • Mark Taplin followed the game via a live feed on YouTube from his bed at home
  • BMW worker Mark, 51, was diagnosed with stage four terminal cancer last month
  • He was told it was too late for chemotherapy and has just a few weeks left to live

This is the touching moment a father-of-two watched a football match held in his honour from his deathbed because he was too ill to attend after being given just weeks to live following a bowel cancer diagnosis. 

Mark Taplin, 51, followed the game via a live feed on YouTube from his home in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, as it raised nearly £5,000 for Cancer Research UK. 

BMW dealership worker Mark was diagnosed with stage four terminal cancer last month after suffering a stomach ache for eight weeks.

He was told it was too late for chemotherapy and was given just a few weeks to live.

After a discussion with palliative nurses, Mark has been allowed to spend the rest of his life in the comfort of his own home.

Players on both teams, made up of work colleagues, wore shirts spelling out Mark’s name for the charity game, which was played at Evesham United Football Club. 

He watched the match – between the service and sales teams at BMW Rybrook – streamed live from the Jubilee Stadium.

Mark was workshop manager there and worked at the site for nearly 30 years.

Mark Taplin (L) with his wife Lindsay, daughter Katie and son Dan. He was dianosed 

Greatly respected by his colleagues, friends and family, a crowd of more than 300 people attended the game.

It meant the original fundraising target of £200 was well and truly smashed.

Mark’s son Dan, who lives with him, his mother Lindsay and his sister Katie, said: ‘When Rybrook BMW heard the news, they decided they had to do something.

‘The pain we are going through is just too much and with the support and organisation from Rybrook, we are fundraising for Cancer Research UK to help prevent other families from going through the heartache we are currently going through.’

Players at the charity match spell out the name of cancer victim Mark Taplin with letters on the back of their shirts. The teams were made up of his work colleagues

Players at the charity match spell out the name of cancer victim Mark Taplin with letters on the back of their shirts. The teams were made up of his work colleagues

Some of the crowd at the match at Evesham United FC's Jubilee Stadium to pay tribute to Mark

Some of the crowd at the match at Evesham United FC’s Jubilee Stadium to pay tribute to Mark

He added: ‘We are so proud of everything Rybrook have done and would love to encourage more donations in the name of Cancer Research.

‘Dad is an amazing man who is being taken from us too soon. Let’s make a difference and bring something positive from this tragedy.’

Mark’s family and friends are raising money for cancer research here: fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/shauns-giving-page-95

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