After sadly losing his wife Sylvia to cancer in 2019, 72- year-old John Hastings is fundraising for Leeds Hospitals Charity to show his appreciation for the care she received throughout her treatment journey.  

To mark what would have been their fourth wedding anniversary on the 29^th of April, John is walking and cycling the equivalent distance from his home in Scarborough to the Bexley Wing at St James’s Hospital. Each day, John will cover 21.4 miles (on foot or his bike) on a route around Scarborough, including the A64 and by the end of the 3^rd day he will have covered 64.2 miles.

Sylvia was first diagnosed with cancer when she was just three years old, in 1948, and travelled from her home in Scarborough for treatment in London, where she lost sight in her left eye after the tumour was removed.

63 years later, Sylvia discovered an itchy lump on her arm, which doctors confirmed was cancer and removed in an operation at Leeds General Infirmary.

In 2014, Sylvia had a full body scan at her local hospital which revealed that the cancer had metastasized to her ovaries, stomach, and bowel. Thanks to an operation doctors hoped for an additional five years survival.

On the 13^th February 2017, Sylvia received a letter from St James’s Hospital to say she would now have to undergo palliative treatment after finding clouds on her lungs.

John proposed to Sylvia a day later on Valentine’s Day and the couple were married on the 29^th April 2017. Just a week later Sylvia was back in hospital to begin her palliative treatment at Leeds Cancer Centre.

Looking back on that time, John says, “Sylvia was so brave, she took everything in her stride as it was happening. I know she would have been so supportive of my fundraising; we once did a sponsored cycle on a tandem when seven of our family members were fighting cancer, she was determined to help them – we raised thousands. So many people are going through this worrying situation, and I am only too pleased to help.”

Sylvia’s determination spurred her on through two more years of gruelling treatment and she felt well enough to go on a caravan rally during Christmas 2018. However just a few weeks later Sylvia had a fall at her friend’s house and was rushed to hospital, and passed away on the 1^st February 2019.

Thanks to his efforts, John has already raised almost £1,250 in his late wife’s memory. If you’d like to sponsor John you can contact our fundraising team on 0113 539 7020 or email [email protected].