A MUM-OF-TWO from Chipping Sodbury has helped to raise more than £800 for charity in memory of her mother and father-in-law who died just 12 weeks apart from each other.

Victoria Canavan, along with her niece Lauren Murray, and sister-in-law Kerry Murray, raised the funds by taking part in the St Peter’s Hospice Midnight Walk in Bristol last Saturday (July 8).

The trio walked the 10-mile course in the memory of Daphne and John Canavan, aged 67 and 68 respectively.

Both Daphne and John passed away in 2014 just 12 weeks apart from each other while being cared for by staff at St Peter’s Hospice in Bristol.

The hospice cares for patients with life-limiting illnesses and sadly Daphne had a brain tumour and John had stomach cancer.

Victoria, area manager for the hospice, told the Gazette that on top of providing the inspiration for the fundraiser, it was the memory of her mother and father-in-law which kept her going along the course.

“They were like my own parents in a way, I was very close to them.

“When I took up a job at St Peter’s they helped me settle in the city, coming from a quiet place like Chipping Sodbury it was wall so different,” she said.

“The staff at St John’s provided them with wonderful care and this was a good way to give back.

“I had considered doing the walk last year but I was still very much dealing with the grief, this year felt like the right time.

“It was extremely tough in the final mile but thinking of them both really gave me that final push.”

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Above - Victoria Canavan, left, with her niece Lauren Murray, and sister-in-law Kerry Murray, dressed in 80s clothing for the Midnight Walk

Victoria, who has two children – Hollie and Braydon – with her husband Neil, said that the whole family has been involved with St Peter’s Hospice in some way, either helping out in the shopfronts or fundraising.

She first became involved with St Peter’s after stepping aside from a career in retail to raise her children.

While raising Hollie and Braydon she found herself looking after people with dementia and when her children become old enough Victoria sought to pursue further care work.

“I wanted to be doing a job that felt worthwhile and working for St Peter’s I have a real chance to do that, I make sure to do something positive each day.”

Victoria is keen to continue raising money for the hospice, but not by repeating the Midnight Walk, she is eager to take part in the Bubble Rush and keep up her work with pop-up shops in the area, including Yate.

So far the trio have raised more than £800 and believe that as further donations trickle in, their final total may exceed £1,000.

More than a thousand women took part in the 80s theme neon walk last Saturday with walkers donning disco-wear such as legwarmers and rara skirts.

Kicking off at 10.30pm from Ashton Gate Stadium, the eighth annual Midnight Walk saw walkers stroll past the SS Great Britain, the Clifton Suspension Bridge and the harbourside.

St Peter’s Hospice staff care for more than 2,670 patients with life-limiting illnesses each year, as well as supporting family members.

All services are provided free of charge for patients and their families and this care costs around £20,000 a day.

In order to continue providing vital care, St Peter’s Hospice relies on donations from fundraising and money generated by the 50 hospice charity shops in Bristol and the surrounding districts.

To find out more about St Peter’s Hospice visit www.stpetershospice.org.uk