YOUTUBER Luke Goodwin has died of cancer at the age of 35.
The dad-of-two was described by his family as a “warrior” and “hero”.
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Wife Beckey said Luke passed away on August 2, surrounded by his family at home.
Just three weeks prior, Luke had joked with followers that he was still “alive and kicking”.
The brave and inspirational Grimsby man documented his journey to viewers across the globe via his YouTube channel, I Will Not Be Defeated.
He was diagnosed with stage four Leiomyosarcoma in August 2022.
The rare type of cancer makes up just 0.17 per cent of all cancers diagnosed each year and affects the smooth muscles.
Luke was given only a year to live and underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy, defying the 12-month life expectancy.
In October last year, Luke was told he had just a few months left, and surpassed the oncologist’s expectations for a second time.
But on August 2, Luke passed away at home peacefully, with his loved ones by his side.
He leaves behind wife Beckey, children Taylor, five, and Scarlett, three, mum Lisa, dad Brian and many more family and friends who loved him.
In his last video on July 18, titled ‘End of life. feel like death is on me…’, Luke said he had felt unwell for the past 13 days.
Lying back on the seat in his car, he said: “It might only be a short video but it’s to keep everyone informed.
“I had someone the other day comment on one of my other videos asking if I was still alive.
“I’m still alive mate, I’m still alive and kicking, just.”
Luke spoke about how he was feeling mentally better and that his only option was to be strong in order to cope.
He later spoke about how he had been struggling to get his breath and showed an oxygen machine by his side, having spent two days in bed with a suspected chest infection or “disease progression”.
He said: “I haven’t felt anything like it. I’ve noticed people have been asking if I’m alright and whatnot, and to be fair, I haven’t been looking at my phone.
“I’ve been out of breath, sick, phlegm. But I am on the mend, I will not be defeated.”
RARE AND INCURABLE
Speaking to GrimsbyLive, mum Lisa and wife Beckey described Luke as a “kind, loyal and funny” person who “always put others first”, even on his low days when he was in pain.
“From when Luke was diagnosed two years ago, we were pretty much in the dark, we were Googling things to try and find out information,” Lisa said.
“We were in despair because we just didn’t know what to do.
“It had an effect on Luke’s wellbeing mentally – he had a wife, children, parents, family and friends – and initially he was all over the place until he decided one day, ‘I will not be defeated’.
“He said that at the time, and from that day on he put his mind to it and fought. He’s our warrior and our hero.
“It’s been tough, chemotherapy took its toll on his health, but it gave us more time with Luke.
“We knew [his cancer] was rare and incurable, but he kept a positive mindset and battled for two years through highs and lows.
“It’s not always been easy but as a family we pulled together.
“He set up his YouTube channel to help other people and that’s exactly what he did.
“He YouTubed on days where he didn’t feel good and days he had enough energy to rip his bathroom and toilet out and put a brand new shower in, all by himself, after having chemotherapy. He was such an inspiration to others.”
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Whilst battling cancer, Luke organised and participated in a walk across the Humber Bridge and back to raise money for charity and other people who were dealing with the disease.
“He did that while he had two fractures in his back,” Lisa said.
“He’d fallen off his quad weeks and weeks before, but didn’t realise he’d broken his back as he was in pain anyway, and walked all the way across and back.
“He always put others before himself. He was a lovely, lovely person and so selfless.
“He would cover up any pain he was in to be able to chat and be friendly to others.”
It was thanks to Lisa working with Beckey that the couple would meet in a chance encounter in 2016, before going on to fall in love and marry in 2022.
He was very loyal, loving, trusting and affectionate, and a bit of a romantic. Luke taught me how to be strong
Beckey
Beckey recalled: “Me and Lisa worked together and we were outside work one day just chatting and Luke pulled up in the car and said, ‘Who’s that girl mum, she’s hot’.
“I thought I’d never fall in love, so as a joke I put in my secret Santa that I wanted a boyfriend for Christmas.
“With that, Luke sent me a friend request, and we got talking and I ended up going round. We had pizza and just fell in love.
“He was absolutely amazing. Even during chemo, he was still wanting to do things for me and the kids.
“He’d get himself out of bed to take the kids to school, bought himself a bike to go on bike rides with them and challenged himself to go to Taylor’s graduation.
“He’d just crack on and do it. He was very loyal, loving, trusting and affectionate, and a bit of a romantic.
“He was very thoughtful on birthdays and he’d always buy random gifts to try and make me smile. Luke taught me how to be strong.”
Luke’s funeral will take place at 11am on August 23 at Grimsby Minster.
There is no dress code, but people are welcome to dress smartly or in a Luke’s Army item of clothing. Onesies are also encouraged in memory of Luke.
The wake will then be held at The Pear Tree. The family ask that no children under 16 attend the funeral or wake.
Anyone wishing to order flowers can do so by contacting Co-op Funeralcare, Abbey Road on 01472 355707.
Reg flags of cancer you must look for and act upon
THERE are more than 200 types of cancer, each with its own set of symptoms.
A cough lasting three weeks or more is a key sign of lung cancer – the most common cancer in the UK.
Changes to bowel habits lasting more than three weeks, such as diarrhoea, constipation, blood when you poo, or needing to go more often, are signs of bowel cancer, the second most common form of the disease.
There are also common symptoms that can be “red flags” of many forms of cancer, and should always be checked.
They include:
- Weight loss for no obvious reason.
- Pain that is persistent and unexplained, whether it be dull and consistent, or sharp and brief.
- Any lumps, bumps or swellings, such as in the neck, armpit, stomach, groin, chest, breast or testicle.
- Fatigue that makes you feel tired all the time and generally lacking in energy.
- Night sweats that are very heavy or a fever that can’t be explained.
- Changes to the skin, such as puckering on the breast, moles that have changed, very itchy or yellow skin.
- Unexplained bleeding from the bottom or vagina, or blood in urine, semen, stool, vomit or when coughing.
