A GUISELEY resident will be joining hundreds of walkers under the stars in October as he remembers his beloved wife, Lucia.
David Baxter, 44, has signed up for the Sue Ryder Starlight Hike Leeds on Saturday, October 5 alongside his five-year-old son Franco and two colleagues, as a "lovely way of giving back" and is looking forward to a fun-filled evening under the stars.
Sue Ryder Starlight Hike Leeds is a 5k or 10k walk around the vibrant market town of Otley. Beginning at Prince Henry's Grammar School, the night time walk crosses the River Wharfe and meanders through the town in the shadow of the iconic Chevin.
The event sees hundreds of people, some dressed in neon or lights, walking to remember their loved one while raising funds to help Sue Ryder ensure that everyone approaching the end of their lives or living with grief can access the support they need.
David wanted to give something back to Sue Ryder following the care and support his wife Lucia received in 2019.
David said: “In 2019, my wife Lucia was diagnosed with terminal cancer. She passed away in August, when our little boy was only nine months old. It was a six-month cycle from diagnosis to losing my wife. Throughout that process, the help that we got from Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice was just amazing. They made a tricky situation much easier for everyone.
“Staff from the hospice came out to see Lucia at home. They were brilliant – just angels on earth, to my eyes – I can’t speak highly enough of them. That’s why it’s massively important for me to do anything I can do to support the hospice.
“I took part in Sue Ryder Starlight Hike Leeds for the second time last year. The whole event is just so ‘feel good’. Everyone’s smiling and happy - it’s a really colourful event. To do something that’s really positive, when there’s been a lot of heartache and emotions, and to give back to the hospice itself, is just an amazing thing to do.”
Talking about the event last year, David added: “Myself and my son Franco, who’s five, we did the 5k, which is very doable for a child. Some of my colleagues who I work with, they did the 10k, because they are a bit more versed in walking longer distances! Franco loved it. He was full of beans and got his own little t-shirt and some glow band glasses to try on. We tried to keep them on for the full 5k without much luck!
“When you first arrive and have signed in, there’s lots of music, and last year, a dance group so everyone’s warming up before they go out. Everyone’s really upbeat because they know they’re doing a good thing and having fun at the same time.
“For me, the reflection part happens during the walk, and perhaps afterwards as well, when you think about what you’ve just done and how proud the people you miss would be of you actually doing it and giving back.
“That’s when it hits home that you’ve really achieved something. I feel like my wife would have been massively proud and that’s what keeps spurring me on to do Sue Ryder Starlight Hike Leeds each year.”
Sign up at sueryder.org/StarlightLeeds or contact the Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice fundraising team via email wheatfields.fundraising@sueryder.org or by calling 0113 203 3317. Standard tickets start from £20 per adult.
If you can’t join the hike but still want to be part of this incredible event, the fundraising team is still seeking volunteers to support the Starlight Hike. Contact the fundraising team for more information.
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