Chesterfield woman does charity trek in honour of dad

Pictured is Elaine Topham, of Chesterfield, who is doing the Ashgate Hospice Moonlight Miles Walk in honour of her late father Bertie.

Elaine Topham of Whittington, Chesterfield, will join hundreds in Chesterfield on Saturday, June 21, for the hospice’s Moonlight Miles event. She aims to raise £500 for the hospice where her dad Bertie died four months ago.

Bertie became ill on a family holiday in Turkey with back pain and flu-like symptoms.

She said: “We all noticed a change in my dad - he was really tired, grey-looking and had lost his appetite.”

Doctors diagnosed that Bertie had cancer in his spine - he became bed-bound and the cancer spread to his neck and throat.

Bertie, 67, was admitted to Ashgate Hospice for six weeks while he underwent radiotherapy. Elaine said: “We can’t thank the staff enough for how they looked after Dad. They were wonderful, especially over Christmas. The staff have been so supportive and helpful to the family.”

Just weeks after returning home, Bertie’s condition deteriorated and he was re-admitted to Ashgate where he died on February 11, three months after his diagnosis.

Elaine added: “Ashgate was where my dad wanted to be. All his family was around him and we didn’t leave his side. The hospice is amazing. They have such caring, friendly, supporting staff and without them my family would have been lost.”

Elaine is doing the 10-mile Moonlight Miles which starts and finishes at the Proact Stadium.

Support Elaine by donating via JustGiving page http://www.justgiving.com/Elaine-Topham.

Moonlight Miles - previously known as the Midnight Walk - involves a run or walk on a new ten mile or 6.5mile route.

It starts and finishes at Chesterfield FC’s Proact Stadium from 10pm, on June 21.

Those interested in taking part in the Moonlight Miles and raising money for Ashgate Hospice can register online at www.ashgatehospice.org or call Ashgate Hospice fund raising team on 01246 567250 for details.

The entry fee is just £12.50.