Some people leave such a huge mark on your life that you can never imagine a future without them in it. Paul was that to me; he was my biggest supporter and also my calm.

I miss him every single day. There are so many moments when I wish I could talk to him, hug him or simply just sit with him. Taking part in the St Michael’s Glow Walk is a way of celebrating Paul and doing something positive in his memory.

Paul was such a huge part of all of our lives, and although he is no longer here with us, he will always be loved, remembered and missed. We wanted to do something together to honour him, keep his memory alive and raise money for a charity that became such an important part of Paul’s final days.

Paul was supported by the palliative care team from St Michael’s Hospice, and he spent the last few hours of his life there. The care and support provided to Paul, and to his family, is something we will always be incredibly grateful for.

I was honestly very scared of the hospice. A couple of nights before Paul went in, my wonderful friend Lizzie, who is a nurse at St Michael’s, encouraged me to go and visit. She knew how frightened I was and wanted to put my mind at ease, because she knew that when the time came, all I would want to do was concentrate on being there for Paul. I will always be so grateful to her for that.

Walking through those doors that night helped me more than she probably realised. It meant that when Paul needed me most, I could focus on him rather than my fear of the place. St Michael’s became somewhere that cared for Paul during his final hours, and for that we will always be thankful.

Even now, St Michael’s continues to be part of our family’s journey. Edie and Paul’s son Jack are supported by the amazing JustB bereavement counsellors. Knowing that they have somewhere safe to go, with people who understand what they are going through, means more than I can put into words.

The Woods — Hayley, Edie and Max — and the Eastwoods — Kirsty, Dan, Jake, Maya and Milo — will all be taking part together.

The Eastwoods are so much more than family to me. They are my support network and have been there for Edie, Max and me through some of the hardest times. They look out for us, support us and are always there whenever we need them. My sister Kirsty is my rock, and I honestly don’t know how I would have got through the last few years without her.

Maya has made it her mission to raise money in remembrance of Paul, as well as her gorgeous friend Arabella. She has held bake sales for Macmillan and taken part in the St Michael’s 5K, and we are so incredibly proud of her. Her determination to help others and keep the memories of people she loves alive is truly special.

So this walk means so much to all of us. It is for Paul. It is for Arabella. It is for the families who need St Michael’s Hospice. And it is our way of giving something back to the people who cared for Paul, supported us when we needed them most, and continue to support us through our grief.

If you can, please consider making a donation to our fundraiser. Every single donation, no matter how big or small, will help St Michael’s continue to provide the care and support that means so much to families like ours. If you’re unable to donate, sharing our fundraising page would mean just as much to us.

We will walk together, with Paul and Arabella in our hearts, and carry their memories with us every step of the way. ❤️

Saint Michael’s Hospice is the local hospice care charity supporting people affected by terminal illness across the Harrogate district.

No one should have to face terminal illness alone – and we’re here for local people and their families when they need us most.

Saint Michael’s is part of an independent charity called North Yorkshire Hospice Care, a family of services which includes Herriot Hospice and Just ‘B’.

Together, we offer vital hospice care, emotional wellbeing and bereavement support to local communities across North Yorkshire, as well as specialist services regionally and nationally.

As an independent charity, the majority of our care is funded by the generous support of our local communities. We believe everyone has the right to high-quality, personalised care and support, when and where they need it, and our services are free to those who need them.