Twin sisters to walk in memory of dad after hospice cared for him at home

Amy and Becky will join hundreds of supporters at Treetops Hospice’s Moonlight Walk in Derby this September, walking in memory of their dad, Steve.

The twin sisters, who grew up in Allestree, are raising funds to give back to the hospice which supported their family during one of the most difficult times in their lives.

Treetops cared for Steve through its Hospice at Home nursing service during his final days and later provided bereavement counselling following his death from pancreatic cancer.

Thanks to the support of Treetops’ Hospice at Home nurses, Steve was able to remain where he wanted to be most, at home with his wife, Maria and surrounded by his family.

Becky said: “Until the last week or so, we were coping and taking it in turns to stay with Dad, but towards the end we were quite exhausted.

“When Treetops came, it was such a relief. Just having someone there who could support Dad and give us a bit of a break for a moment made such a difference.”

The sisters describe their dad as “funny, caring and always young at heart”. A devoted husband, father and grandfather, Steve loved making people laugh.

Following Steve’s death, Amy and Becky both accessed bereavement counselling through Treetops, helping them navigate their grief after losing their dad less than four weeks after his diagnosis.

Amy said: “My counsellor gave me techniques for coping with my grief and helped me understand what to do when things felt overwhelming.

“One thing I was encouraged to do was get back into my hobbies, which really helped me rebuild my confidence.”

As a true family effort, Amy and Becky will be joined at the Moonlight Walk by Steve’s grandchildren, Bella and Harry, who are also taking on the walk in his memory. Cheering them on from the sidelines will be Steve’s wife, Maria, along with his other two grandchildren, Grace and Archie.

Adding to the family’s support, Becky’s husband Ric will be volunteering at the Moonlight Walk, offering his professional photography skills to help capture the evening.

Amy explained: “After everything Treetops did for Dad and all of the support they’ve given us through counselling, we wanted to do the Moonlight Walk to give back.

“We’ll be walking in memory of Dad, but it’s also about making sure another family can receive the support that we had.

“Treetops didn’t just support Dad, they supported all of us, and everyone should be able to access that support.”

Becky added: “What’s so nice about Treetops’ events is that most people there have their own personal connection and in some way can understand what you’ve been through.”

The Moonlight Walk takes place on Friday 18 September and raises vital funds for Treetops Hospice’s range of services in central and southern Derbyshire. Last year, the event raised more than £40,000 to support local families.