Jon Hilton, a “6ft 5, ex-door man with a heart of gold,” was diagnosed with CNS lymphoma in July 2024 after showing sudden signs of confusion and memory loss. As his family navigated the unexpected crisis, they found immediate comfort when Jon was transferred to The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Liverpool in early August.
The atmosphere instantly transformed their stress into security. Jon quickly bonded with the nursing team, earning the nickname “Big Jon.” He referred to the Centre as his “home from home” and the nurses as his “family.”
His family fondly recalls specific acts of kindness that built this deep trust:
“Music was always a huge part of dads’ life… when he struggled to navigate YouTube, the staff would always support him and make sure he had his musical comfort blanket (Pink Floyd and Rush were his favourite bands).
Two nurses even came in on their days off just to bring him cake!
”This level of personalized care, going above and beyond the clinical, gave Jon’s family the ultimate peace of mind.
Jon responded incredibly well to treatment, which led to a moment of immense hope: his stem cell return was scheduled for Christmas Eve. This milestone earned him the family nickname “Jesus Christ,” and they were filled with the belief that he would soon be home to start their “new version of life.”
Jon sadly passed away on the afternoon of February 7, 2025.
As his family left the hospital that evening, reeling from their sudden and immense loss, they walked out into a strange sight: the streets were filling with people dressed in bright green, carrying glow sticks. They soon realised these were the walkers taking part in the Glow Green Night Walk for Clatterbridge Cancer Charity.
“To have the Glow Green Night Walk taking place as dad made his final journey felt symbolic as Clatterbridge had made my dad feel safe, loved, and motivated and we were now surrounded by people who would have had similar experiences at a time when we were hurting the most.”
Jon’s family is now turning their gratitude and their grief into action by walking in his honour.
They carry a powerful message that every single supporter needs to hear:
“We are all aware of the statistics regarding cancer, but it often feels like it is something that happens to other people, until it happens to you. Without Clatterbridge, the darkest period of our lives would have been an awful lot darker, and much more difficult to face. Supporting the Glow Green Night Walk is a way to ensure that the Clatterbridge is there for more of us when we unexpectedly need it.”
