Warwick family walking for one of their own

Buy photos » Emma Perry and husband Mike with their children Lottie, Tommy and Rosie, all of whom will be taking part in a 100-mile walk in memory of Nick Sibcy. Picture by Jon Mullis 23.012.043.leam.jm1 (www.buyphotos247.com)

GENERATIONS of a Warwick family are putting their best foot forward in aid of charity and in honour of one of their own.

Popular town resident Nick Sibcy died after a short battle with pancreatic cancer in November last year, aged 66.

To celebrate his life, his children, grandchildren and other relatives and friends will be taking part in a self-organised 'Big Red Shorts Walk' next month, a 100-mile trek of Cornish coastline spread over seven days.

The aim is to raise a total of £10,000 split between Pancreatic Cancer UK and also Myton Hospice, where Nick was cared for in the final three weeks of his life.

Emma Perry, one of Nick's daughters who works at Warwick School, said: “Dad was a real character and would often be seen walking around Warwick in his bright red shorts, so this is why we named the walk that.

“My father was in the Royal Navy in his 20s and as a result we will start the journey at the gates of Dartmouth Naval College, where he trained.

“We will then take his ashes to Plymouth by bicycle and from there we will be walking them along the South West Coast Path all the way to Mylor Yacht Harbour, where Dad kept his beloved yacht ‘Eleanor of Poole’ for 20 years.

“Once there we will be going out for a sail, and scatter his ashes at sea as was his request, a journey of 109 miles in total.

“My brothers Adam and Jim will be completing the entire walk along with me, and many other family members and friends will be joining us for parts of it, including Dad’s six grandchildren, who age from three months to 14.”

Mr Sibcy, who lived in Warwick for the final four years of his life, met his future wife Ann at St Nicholas Church in 2007 and the pair enjoyed four happy years together.

As the cancer struck he faced it with what the family described as “incredible grace and dignity” and they added the care he had received at Myton Hospice was “superb and second to none”.

They also want to raise cash for Pancreatic Cancer UK having been shocked to discover only three per cent of people diagnosed with it in the UK survive beyond five years.

Visit http://www.redshorts.co.uk or call Emma Perry on 07779 099930 to find out more about the walk and ways to support it.

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