A man from Leeds is inviting people to pull on their walking boots and tackle Yorkshire’s three highest peaks to raise funds for the charity that cared for his wife in her final days.

Jonathan Smith, who lives in Guiseley, has organised the charity fundraiser on Saturday, June 10, which will see hundreds of trekkers take on one of two variations of the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge.

The event is in aid of national healthcare charity Sue Ryder, which runs Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice near Keighley and Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice in Leeds, where his wife Tina received care before she died in May 2022.

“Tina first started getting some pain while we were in the Maldives on the holiday of a lifetime to celebrate her 50th birthday,” said Jonathan. “When we got back it was discovered that she had stage 4 pancreatic cancer, which was sadly diagnosed as terminal.”

Tina was referred to Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice and initially received palliative care at their home in Menston from the community team, before being admitted to the inpatient unit in Headingley in her final days.

“We were allocated a wonderful Sue Ryder Nurse from the community team called Julie – who Tina affectionally referred to as ‘me Julie’ – and she was phenomenal. Tina was in daily pain, but the nurses and doctors did everything they could to manage her symptoms and make her as comfortable as possible.

“The support Tina and our family received from the hospice - not only towards the end, but from the start of Tina's nightmare was nothing short of amazing.”

Jonathan hopes to encourage 200 participants to sign up to his challenge and help to raise a collective total of £100,000.

“We want anyone who has had a positive experience with Sue Ryder or a Sue Ryder hospice to sign up and come and join us on the day. This isn’t just about Tina – it’s about anyone who wants to walk in memory of a loved one, show their appreciation and say thank you, or simply support a fantastic charity which provides care for so many families in our local area,” he said.

To sign up for the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge in support of Sue Ryder, visit: sueryder.org/yorkshire3peaks.

For more information about Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice in Leeds, visit: sueryder.org/wheatfields or for more information about Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice in Oxenhope, visit: sueryder.org/manorlands.