Aunt raises more than £800 for children's hospice in memory of her nephew

Aunt Sharon Potts has raised more than £800 for a children’s hospice in loving memory of her nephew.

Sharon raised the funds for Francis House Children’s Hospice through the charity walk she completed last month. The 54-year-old wanted to do the walk in honour of her nephew Thomas, who passed away at the age of just seven, 25 years ago at Francis House.

Thomas was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer on Christmas Day, and the hospice in Manchester took special care of him during his last few months. Sharon said: “Francis House is an amazing place, not only for the children but for the whole family to spend precious time
with loved ones. 

“Thomas passed away 25 years ago, but to this day we visit Francis House as a family once a year to celebrate memory day for all the children who
have sadly passed. It is a place I hold very close to my heart and they really don’t get enough recognition.”

Sharon came up with the idea herself, which was to walk all the way from her house in Hyde to Towyn in North Wales. She estimated the walk would take her around four days, but she managed to complete the 75 mile walk in just over 48 hours.

Sharon said: “It was something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, and raising money for an amazing cause made me want to do it even more.”

When asked about what the toughest part of the walk was, Sharon said: “The walking itself was hard but it was very lonely as well, I think that was the toughest aspect.” 

Sharon set off on her walk armed with only a small bag of snacks, and a two-man tent, which she slept in for two.

“The sleeping was tough, I only got about two hours sleep on the first night,” she said. Sammy Pearson, Thomas’ mother, said: “I’m so proud
of her, she’s my super trooper from Hyde, Tom would be so proud of what she’s done too.”

The money was raised through donations given to Sharon in person, as well as a gofundme page.
Sharon is still accepting donations and to donate, just search ‘Walk in memory of Thomas Ian for Francis House’ on the gofundme website.