A picture of Austin Hill with his arm around his dad, Mark, on holiday in Greece in 2021 captures the love between them. It was taken just two weeks after Mark had been diagnosed with bowel cancer.
Tragically, Mark did not recover from his diagnosis. The teacher, who worked at the Radclyffe School in Chadderton, passed away on December 30 last year.
But inspirational Austin has been determined to pay tribute to his father and say thank to you to those who helped him. Every day this month, the seven-year-old has walked a mile or more in memory of his dad to raise funds for the hospice where he spent his final days.
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The sponsored walking is the seven-year-old's way of saying thank you to hospice staff who brought last Christmas forward so he could spend precious special time with his dad. His treks have raised £900 for Dr Kershaw's Hospice in Oldham and £2,877 for Bowel Cancer UK. Find out how you can donate below.
Austin's mum, Karen, 44, said: "I'm so proud of him. He keeps saying to me now we have raised money 'will the scientists be able to get people well and look after them now'. He has walked after school - the aim was a mile a day in May for Mark.
"We did walks near where we live in High Crompton and others were more organised as people wanted to join us at Tandle Hill in Royton and around Hollingworth Lake. He has already completed his 31 miles - one for each day of the month - but we are carrying on."
Karen and Austin felt compelled to help the Hospice after the kindness and understanding staff showed them when caring for Mark. Karen said: "Mark was at home last December - just taking paracetamol. His chemotherpary was no longer working and the doctors at Christie had said go home and live as much as you can. But he woke up one morning in pain and was admitted to Dr Kershaw's on December 19th. We were told he might not make Christmas.
"The staff were amazing. They brought in a Christmas tree into Mark's room and we had Christmas early on December 20th. We exchanged special presents - I bouught Mark a Tag watch, which was intended for him to pass down to Austin to wear one day, and he gave me a ring. He bought Austin a clown filled with sweets.
"The last time Austin saw his dad was Christmas Day. Mark died on December 30. But thanks to the Hospice Austin was still able to share some of the magic of Christmas time with his dad.
"After Mark's diagnosis we went on holiday and then packed so much into 19 months - we went to London and even moved house. Mark was a teacher at the Radclyffe School in Chadderton, in design technology and engineering and he loved his job."
Austin's fundraising efforts have warranted a mention in assembly at his school, St Mary's CE Primary in High Crompton. He has done the walks with the best friend at school, Ollie Tighe.
Austin has also been determined to raised money for Bowel Cancer UK "so nobody else dies like daddy did". He has been so excited about the money he has raised he has been logging it in his notebook every night, and the funds are still coming in.
Adele Doherty, Dr Kershaw’s Chief Executive, said: “Austin is such an inspirational little boy, who has taken on this challenge to support other patients at our Hospice as his dad was supported and cared for. The money he has raised will enable us to provide more precious memories for other children and their daddies like Austin and his daddy, Mark had.
"At what is such a sad time for families, our team support patients’ loved ones and help to create special times, like we did with Austin and his dad last Christmas. Thank you to Austin and his best friend, Ollie for your dedication to your challenge and to our Hospice, it truly does mean so much for our patients and their families.”
Austin's final walk will be next Tuesday May 30 at the Hospice at 4.30pm. Nurses and staff will cheers him across the finish line and family and friends.
A spokesperson for the Hospice said: "Austin doesn’t get sad thinking about the Hospice but keeps asking can he visit the team here again as he has such happy memories of his dad's last days here and wanted to raise money so that more people can be cared for like his daddy was."
Call to Action: To support Austin’s fundraising and help more families to have special lasting memories together, visit: www.drkh.org.uk/donate and type in reason for donation: Austin’s Walk.
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