A Tuffley resident is preparing to take part in a night-time remembrance walk for Sue Ryder this October, marking the 10th anniversary of her husband's death. Jacky Stewart, 60, will join the Sue Ryder Starlight Hike Cheltenham, sponsored by Allstone Speedy Skips and Monster Mix, which starts from Ashley Manor Preparatory School on Saturday, October 17.
Jacky's first walk after husband Ken's death
Jacky first participated in the charity's walk shortly after her husband, Ken, died in March 2016. Ken was cared for at Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice and later by the charity's Hospice at Home team, which helped fulfil his wish to die at home with Jacky by his side.
Jacky, who worked for Gloucestershire Constabulary for 33 years before retiring early to become a celebrant and registration officer, said: "I first became aware of Sue Ryder when my husband, Ken, was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015. It's hard to know the true impact Sue Ryder can have until it touches your life. The whole team was wonderful, not only caring for Ken, but caring for me too. If I looked exhausted, they'd make me a coffee and check I was okay."
Keeping a promise and a good death
She added: "People don't talk about death enough, and having a good death is so important. For me, Sue Ryder allowed Ken to have a good death. They helped me to keep my promise to Ken: that he would die at home, and that I would be asleep beside him when he did."
Jacky continued: "I lost several close family members in a short period: my father in 2014, Ken in 2016, my mother in 2018 and my son in 2019. I take a philosophical approach to death and grief. I believe when it's your time, it's your time, but it was a difficult decade, and I decided life is too short. After losing so many people, I was going to retire at 55 and make the most of the time I had."
For Jacky, changing her life meant moving to a more flexible job and giving back to Sue Ryder through fundraising and raising awareness.
A joyful yet poignant event
She said: "Walking the Sue Ryder Starlight Hike Cheltenham gives me space to remember and celebrate Ken and the lives of everyone close to me who has died, but also an opportunity to give something back to Sue Ryder. The event is joyful. It's poignant at times, especially when you walk through the beautifully lit hospice grounds, but still joyful."
Participants in the hike are invited to complete a 10km route around the spa town before passing through the grounds of Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice. The hike is not the only fundraiser Jacky has taken part in, having previously completed the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu to raise money for the charity. Through that trek she met one of her closest friends, Tracey, who will be joining her on this year's walk alongside Ken's best friend Jim and his daughter Katie.
Jacky also remains actively involved with the charity through the Hospice User Group at Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice, which invites people to share feedback to help shape improvements.
Event details and how to support
Standard tickets for the event start from £20 per adult, which includes a t-shirt and a medal. Teams of five or more can receive 20 per cent off their registration fee with the code TEAM20, and participants are encouraged to raise a suggested sponsorship of £100 or more per adult. To find out more and sign up, visit sueryder.org/StarlightCheltenham or support Jacky's fundraising at justgiving.com/page/jacky-stewart-starlight26.
