Devastated dad left to raise nine-month-old son on his own after wife dies

A father who became a solo parent to his nine-month-old son after his wife tragically died from cancer is now dedicating his efforts to the "the angels on earth" that supported them in their darkest days.

David Baxter, from Guiseley, Leeds, was left to bring up little Franco alone when his beloved wife Lucia succumbed to terminal cancer in August 2019, just six months after she was diagnosed. David believes Lucia would be "massively proud" of how the pair have been managing.

Lucia's last moments were spent at Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice, and David, with Franco now aged five, has committed to the Sue Ryder Starlight Hike in Leeds, praising the "brilliant" care his wife received. Expressing his gratitude, David said: "Staff from the hospice came out to see Lucia at home. They were brilliant just angels on earth, to my eyes I can't speak highly enough of them. That's why it's massively important for me to do anything I can do to support the hospice."

Having participated in the charity walk last year, David said: "For me, the reflection part happens during the walk, and perhaps afterwards as well, when you think about what you've just done and how proud the people you miss would be of you actually doing it and giving back."

He continued: "That's when it hits home that you've really achieved something. I feel like my wife would have been massively proud and that's what keeps spurring me on to do Sue Ryder Starlight Hike Leeds each year."

The Sue Ryder Starlight Hike in Leeds is a 5 or 10k walk around Otley, Leeds Live reports, with loved-ones coming together to raise vital funds for charity. This year, it'll be held on October 5, kicking off at Prince Henry's Grammar School, before the nighttime stroll crosses the River Wharfe and passes through the town and the Chevin.

Hundreds of people, some adorned in neon or lights, participate in the event to remember their loved ones while raising funds for Sue Ryder. The charity ensures that everyone nearing the end of their lives or dealing with grief can access the necessary support.