THE devastating story of an Odiham family touched the hearts of a nation last Friday on Channel 4’s Stand Up To Cancer evening.

Mark Keville and his children Harry, 20 and Lara, 18, have lost their wife/mother Kate, and son/brother, Robbie to cancer in the last five years.

The fundraising campaign by Cancer Research UK and Channel 4 has been supported heavily by the family who are determined to do all they can to help save more lives of those suffering with cancer.

The family had their lives torn apart in 2011 when Kate passed away after a three-year battle with breast cancer, after finding a lump on Christmas Day in 2008.

As the family began to recover from the loss of their wife and mother, they were rocked again in 2013 when the youngest member of their family, Robbie, was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Robbie, who had a close relationship with his mother, died in February this year aged 10.

The Keville’s story was shown during Celebrity Gogglebox on Friday night, where Mark spoke about the devastation his family has faced since 2008.

“One thing everyone always said about Kate was that first and foremost she was a mother. Extremely caring, loving, just very happy in the company of her children.

“But I always felt like she gave a little bit extra because she put herself last.

“When Harry was 10 and Lara was 8 we then had number three, Robbie. Kate spent most of her time holding on to him. They just had the most wonderful relationship. We were a very happy little family.”

The story resonated with Gogglebox regulars and celebrities alike as Mark began to tell more about his family’s fight against cancer.

Speaking about his wife he said: “The diagnosis was obviously devastating for everybody, I can’t describe how, it seemed unreal.

“Kate and I never talked about her dying. Three years after diagnosis, we were in the car on the way back from the doctor’s surgery when he had just said she had six weeks to live. She said, “darling, I think it’s time we talked, really talked”. I said, “yes I agree”, she said “but I’m too tired now, let’s do it tomorrow”.

“She came home and went to bed and died on the Monday morning.”

He explained how losing Kate impacted on the family, and Robbie in particular.

“The hardest thing with Robbie was that I couldn’t fix it for him. The moments I remember more than any were tears at bedtime, and just saying “I wish I could see mummy again”.

“We became very much closer very quickly, he needed me and I needed him.

“Apart from being a beautiful little chap from even when he was tiny, it was clear that he was very very kind.

“But the experience gives you greater empathy and he had a huge well of kindness.

“From my point of view I thought well this is one person, this is one person that isn’t leaving me.”

The clip then informed viewers how Robbie was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2013, showing footage of him going through his treatment at Southampton Hospital, yet maintaining his cheeky smile and high spirits.

In emotional scenes Mr Keville continued: “Robbie knew he was dying, because he’d seen mummy go through it.

“I can’t describe the feeling of pride in him that we had, total adoration for him. The way he put up with it all, I had a lot to say to him.

“And it was all, none of it was forced, it was all true, I told him I was very very proud of him, I loved him very much, which of course I did, and his brother and sister loved him very much and his mummy loved him very much.

“There was nothing that I wanted to say to him that I didn’t get to say to him, even down to telling him it was OK to let go and leave us.

“It’s OK to let go, mummy’s waiting for you.”

Robbie died on February 8 this year, aged 10, but has left behind a legacy and a spirit that his family are carrying on, most of all through his charity Robbiesrally.

The charity was set up to raise money to build a dedicated paediatric neuro oncology outpatient rehabilitation team to be named Robbies Rehabilitation.

‘Robbiesrehabilitation’ is to be based at Southampton Hospital and will look to benefit children who are recovering from brain tumours by providing them with specialist staff to care for them as they look to rebuild their lives.

Building on a fund of nearly £100,000, the charity is now poised to employ their first therapist for the next three years.

To see the full video of the Keville family on Stand Up To Cancer, visit youtu.be/rQXHsZdN9u4 and for more about Robbies

rally, go to www.robbiesrally.com.