A family are taking on a series of fundraising events in the next few months - to complete a cancer victim’s bucket list.

The wife and sons of Huddersfield man Paul Sykes have determined to do all the things he wanted to do to raise cash for Weston Park Cancer Charity.

The family began raising funds for the cancer charity after Paul was diagnosed with colon cancer and lost his battle at the age of 45.

To continue their father’s legacy, Paul’s sons, Gavin and Liam, along with his wife, Yeolande, of Brockholes, have vowed to continue raising money for the Weston Park Hospital after Paul received treatment there.

It means they will be doing the things on his bucket list including a skydive, zorbing, a visit to Dublin, a drive in a racing car and a round of footgolf.

Cancer victim Paul Sykes of Brockholes who died earlier this year
Cancer victim Paul Sykes of Brockholes who died earlier this year

A crown green-bowling enthusiast and worker at Pink Link, Paul was diagnosed with cancer after surgery for colon problems in February 2015 and went on to have radiotherapy and chemotherapy at Weston Park Hospital.

But following a bone biopsy in the Autumn, Paul was told his cancer had in spread and was incurable. He developed an infection shortly before starting another course of chemotherapy before passing away in January.

Yeolande said: “He had come up with this of achievable things and we decided to carry on his work.

“We’ve already raised £2,000 for the charity and we hope to get a lot more.”

Gavin, 25, said, “Dad was a real fighter until the bitter end. He made the most of every second of his life and made a bucket list in the final months that he desperately tried to complete before he left us.

Yeolande and Liam Sykes, widow and son of cancer victim Paul Sykes of Brockholes who died earlier this year

“Unfortunately, cancer got the better of him and as he had already signed up to complete a skydive for Weston Park Cancer Charity in June 2016, I decided to take on this challenge in his place and memory.

“Between us we will try and tick off the things on his bucket list that he never got to do, then, in a way, he will have achieved everything he always wanted to, through his family.”

Liam completed the Be Gung Ho 5k in Manchester in April and Yeolande held a tea party raising just over £1000. They also plan to take part in the cancer charity’s woodland walk, Light the Night this October.

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Yeolande said, “Everyone at Weston Park Hospital was always very cheerful and friendly

and we certainly never felt like we were on our own whilst Paul was going through his treatment, even when it was bad news.

“The reason why we want to raise money is because we want to try and prevent other families going through what we went through and the only real way to prevent that is by research and hopefully a cure, but money is needed for that.”

To support Gavin’s skydive for the cancer charity visit his JustGiving page at: justgiving.com/fundraising/Paul-Sykes8