...continued
Over the next two weeks, Simon developed gastro-intestinal
problems, which prevented him from gaining the strength
necessary to endure chemotherapy. After various procedures and
tests it was concluded that there was nothing to be done: Simon
was simply too unwell to undergo chemotherapy.
Four days later, Simon went home. The next day Simon and Hayley
were married in his parents’ conservatory. Five days after that,
Simon passed away surrounded by his family with Hayley holding
his hand.
Simon lived his life in the fast lane...running, cycling,
swimming (when forced to for the sake of a triathlon), jetting
off around the world for sporting events and life-changing
experiences, partying the night away...but was always able to
chill out and read a magazine. Whilst Hayley would witter on
about everything from the worries of day-to-day life as a
teacher to concerns about repaying the imaginary mortgage which
was a million worlds away from their life in Rugby, Simon would
simply say ‘Relax...concentrate on today’. This assured attitude
towards life never left him; until the end, Simon was calm,
incredibly gracious and maintained a positive perspective on
life.
On the last day that Simon spent in hospital, Hayley asked:
‘have you got any advice Si...for how to live my life?’ Simon’s
response was simple and direct: ‘take every opportunity you get
and be the best you can be’. In an attempt to do justice to
Simon’s enviable philosophy for life, Hayley and his family have
created Team Zeemon.
About Team Zeemon
Whilst living in New Zealand with two of his best friends, Tom
Stone and Nick Busst, Simon acquired the nickname Zeemon. Two
German girls with whom the boys had been living and working on
an apple farm were unable to say ‘Simon’ so ‘Zeemon’ became his
name. So all-pervading was the name Zeemon that Hayley soon
became Shemon and it seemed only fitting that Simon’s alias
should become the name of this Ironman’s support crew.