North Derbyshire nurse will run two big races in memory of grandad to raise money for Ashgate Hospice

Megan Cartwright, 23, from Calow will be running the Chesterfield 10k in May and is also in training for the Great North Run in September. She is raising funds for Ashgate Hospice which cared for her grandad at home.

Megan shared a special bond with her grandad, Dave Cartwright, spending much of her childhood with him and her nana, June. She said: "He was the most generous and caring man. Nothing was too much trouble.”

Dave worked in the construction industry for many years before retiring to take care of his wife. After June’s death in 2016, Dave remained a big part of Megan’s life and she would often visit him with her brother and sister.

In June 2024 Dave started to show signs of illness and was diagnosed with bladder cancer. He underwent chemotherapy and received the all-clear in March 2025. However, just days later Dave had a spontaneous hemorrhagic stroke. Further tests revealed he had myelodysplastic syndrome, a rare form of blood cancer that affects the bone marrow.

Wanting to spend his final days at home in Tapton, Dave returned to his house with the support of his family. He was visited by a specialist nurse from Ashgate within a couple of days. Megan said: “Within the first couple of weeks my grandad’s health improved massively, he was eating and walking around the house.”

The Ashgate team visited him regularly, providing the support that he and his family needed, and advising on where further support could be found.

Megan, who took time off work to care for her grandad, said: “Without them we wouldn’t have been aware of what services and support were available to us, even being a nurse myself.

“As a nurse, I was still carrying that role while caring for my grandad. The team reminded me that this was my grandad and not my patient. That really stuck with me. I really don’t know what we would have done without the support of the Ashgate team. I know I will be forever grateful for the positive impact they had at such a difficult time.”

Megan now hopes to give something back by raising funds for the North Derbyshire hospice through her running challenges. She said: = “I know my grandad would be very proud that I’ve decided to take on both the Chesterfield 10k and the Great North Run. I know he’ll be watching and cheering me on.”

The Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10k will see runners take to the streets of the market town. Runners taking part on behalf of Ashgate will be helping the hospice continue providing essential care for people across North Derbyshire living with a life-limiting or incurable illness. More than 1,300 people were last year cared for in their own homes.

To sign up for the Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10k, go to ashgatehospice.org.uk/chesterfield-10k