Lee's marathon Christmas fundraising walk for Leeds hospice in partner's memory

Lee Sharratt's partner Marc Orthyn Hughes died aged 43 on December 28 2018 at Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice at Headingley after a short lung cancer battle.

Lee, 39, is set to walk 26 miles from Whitby to Filey in Marc's memory on Monday December 28 to raise cash for the hospice.

Lee and Marc, who lived in Beeston, enjoyed walking and camping at the Yorkshire coast.

Lee, now of Normanton, Wakefield, said it will be a poignant end to the walk at Filey, where Marc's ashes were scattered.

Lee said: "The care that Marc received was second to none, it was absolutely amazing. They were very attentive and supportive.

"With everything that has happened this year I wanted to do something positive and good for Wheatfields to say thank you for all their hard work."

Marc started to feel unwell in September 2018 and was diagnosed with lung cancer a few weeks later.

His health deteriorated rapidly and Marc was admitted to Wheatfields on December 20, 2018.

Lee said: "We looked after him at home for about a month but it was very difficult.

" Marc was in the hospice for about a week and I was there every day.

"We had Christmas together and I even brought our dog Rita in to see him. He died on December 28."

A few months after Marc’s death, Lee started attending the New Horizons Café at Wheatfields.

New Horizons is a bereavement group, which offers peer support to younger adults who have lost a partner.

Lee, who works for LNER, said: "Marc and I loved walking and camping and on our last trip we went to Whitby for the day so that was our last day out.

"I’m planning to walk 26 miles from Whitby to Filey, which was our favourite place and it is where Marc’s ashes are scattered.

"Charities are really struggling at the moment so hopefully I’ll be able to raise a few pounds to help Wheatfields out.

Click here to donate to Lee's JustGiving appeal page.