Children pay tribute to father in Weston Park run

A BROTHER and sister will pay tribute to their late father next weekend by taking on a charity run in his memory.

Jack and Isabelle White, who are 11 and nine respectively, will be joined on Weston Park Cancer Charity’s Run in the Park on Sunday by mum Catherine.

The trio are running to remember Catherine’s husband and the children’s dad Neil, who died last year from skin cancer.

Catherine’s sister and mum and her sister’s partner are also taking part.

Neil underwent surgery after being diagnosed with skin cancer in 2003 and lived a normal life until 2015, when the cancer returned and was found to be terminal.

He died five month later, aged just 38.

Catherine, from Tickhill, said: “We just can’t thank the staff at Weston Park Hospital enough for all they did for us and Neil throughout his final months.

“Although they weren’t able to save Neil, they were incredibly kind and caring from the day we arrived and really made us all feel at ease and confident that Neil was in the best hands.

“We decided to all sign up for Run in the Park this July and support Weston Park Cancer Charity as I know it’s what Neil would have done in his quest to help others, even in the months before he passed away.”

Run in the Park welcomes families, friends and colleagues to don their running vests in support of the cancer charity and is well attended by hospital staff, fundraisers and patients alike.

The charity is urging people of all ages and abilities to take on either the 3k fun run or 10k race as part of the event at Weston Park.

The Whites have already raised hundreds for Weston Park, including £340 with a recent cake sale.

Teaching assistant Catherine said: “Anything we can do to raise awareness of skin cancer is a positive step for us.

“If only one person learns something from our story then we will have at least accomplished something good from this terrible loss.”

Garry Boon, who is set to marry Catherine's sister, has also signed up to Run in the Park in memory of Neil and although an inexperienced runner, has vowed to complete the 10k route on the day.

“Neil was such a generous and caring person,” he said.

“Less than a month before he passed away he twice cycled over 100 miles to raise money for charity, but that was just Neil.

“He always put everyone ahead of himself and he was taken far too early.

“Many people have already raised money for him, including an incredible £3,000 at his funeral, which is testament to his character and the impact he had on everyone who was lucky enough to meet him.”

To support Catherine’s fund-raising, visit fellow fun runner Rebecca Humble’s page — to which Catherine’s supporters are invited to contribute — at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Rebecca-Humble1?utm_id=22.

To support Garry’s fundraising, donate via his JustGiving page at:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Garry-Boon.

To sign up for Run in the Park and take on the 3k fun run or 10k race at Graves Park visit www.runinthepark.org.uk