Shining a light on Lee’s memory

5th July 2024

Walking our Midnight Walk in memory of Lee

“St Luke’s took the reins we didn’t know how to steer and guided us with gentle hands right through to the very end.”

Like many of the walkers taking part in our Midnight Walk on Friday, Danielle Craig, a Learning Support Practitioner at Duchy College, will be taking on the walk in memory of someone special, her late husband Lee.

At the age of 23, Danielle met Lee Westcott, 25 while a student at Duchy College. Danielle describes the first three weeks of them meeting like a ‘whirlwind’, however reality was soon to hit as Lee was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia.

“Months of chemotherapy, months in hospital, a bone marrow transplant and months of recovery later, we finally had a chance to be a somewhat ‘normal’ couple, with meals out, date nights and a summer ball,” she recalls.

St Luke’s guided us with gentle hands

However the leukaemia soon came back and with it five words that devastated the couple. “This really isn’t good news.” Danielle and Lee decided to get engaged and with thanks to The Wedding Wishing Well Foundation, they had a beautiful wedding in Plymouth.

What followed was the news that Lee only had 6-8 weeks left, which is when our St Luke’s teams stepped in.

“St Luke’s called in on us, took the reins we didn’t know how to steer and guided us with gentle hands right through to the very end, and then just once more when Lee had passed away in my arms at home.

“St Luke’s played a huge part in caring for Lee. I have chosen to walk the longest route of 13.1 miles, I’ve never walked that far in my life, all the money I have raised for this incredible charity will be what pushes me through it.”

Make a difference at our Midnight Walk

Danielle will be taking on the walk alongside her aunt, keeping her memories of both Lee and her friend Kerry, at the forefront of her mind as she takes to the streets of Plymouth. She has already raised over £328 in sponsorship. That money, like every penny that is raised by our walkers will enable our nurses to be there for other families like Danielle and Lee, supporting and steering them through life’s unimaginable moments.

Tickets for our Midnight Walk, sponsored by Michael Spiers are now sold out. If you are already registered make sure to set up your JustGiving page and see what a difference you can make.

Set up your JustGiving page St Luke’s Midnight Walk Sponsor Danielle

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