THE GRANDCHILDREN of a Halesowen man who died from Lymphoma are raising money for the hospital which treated him by walking over two million steps.
Martin Sylvester died aged 63 last June after a five-year fight with the cancer.
The much-loved grandad was treated at the Georgina Unit at Russells Hall Hospital for much of that time, before being transferred to the QE.
The family wanted to say thank you to the hospital for caring for him and grandchildren Harriet and Milo Todd, aged five and ten and Nancy, Megan and Jude Mcfarlane, aged six, ten and 11, have just completed an ambitious walking fundraiser.
They walked two and a half million steps during Lent and have already smashed their £1k target with the total standing at £2,255 for their fundraiser called 5 Go Walking on JustGiving at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/5gowalking?utm_term
The appeal states: "During these hard times we can't spend time together as we usually would which is really sad.
"So this is a way of us working together virtually, exercising during lockdown and giving something back as a team!
"We will be doing this for the whole of lent, which ends on Easter Sunday and totals 46 days.
"This means on average we need to achieve 55,000 steps a day between us.
"The big ones will help the little ones if they are struggling because this is a team effort.
"Follow our journey on our instagram page @5_gowalking."
Martin left wife Josie, aged 62, four children and six grandchildren.
Daughter Grace Andrews said the family are Catholic and like to fundraise at Easter.
She said: "We are an incredibly close family and the children really felt the loss of dad, as we all did.
"My own son Alfie was not born until two months after dad passed away.
"The Georgina unit are are amazing and deserve so much support.
"Dad was treated there for about three and a half years before he relapsed and was transferred to the QE.
"They were just brilliant. He had a birthday in hospital and they bought him a cake - they were just lovely.
"My five nieces and nephews all decided they would like to raise money for the Georgina unit.
"We are incredibly proud."
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