THREE sisters have teamed up to remember a fun-loving 'amazing dad’ who inspired everyone he met.
Knutsford mum Michaela Ward has vowed to celebrate the life of her brave husband, Liam, who battled a very rare form of cancer.
Sadly, he was only 34 when he died, six years ago.
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Now, Michaela’s sisters, Maria Wrench, 28, and Mel Hutchings, 38, are running the London Marathon to keep his memory alive.
Mum-of-two Michaela said: “He was the strongest person I’ve ever met in my life.
“His strength and determination throughout his diagnosis and treatment was unbelievable.
“He fought ‘til the very end to make memories with us as a family.
“I feel so honoured to carry on his name and keep giving back to the amazing charities who supported us through the hardest times.
“I am incredibly proud of my sisters. They’ve never done anything like this. It’s been a real journey.
“This is our first joint big give back.”
The sisters have been training for months, determined to complete the daunting 26-mile challenge.
The siblings are raising funds for The Christie and Maggie’s Centre, which gave Michaela and Liam the chance to spend precious time together.
Michaela said: “It was like walking into someone’s living room, they just gave us what we needed.
“It was the first time somebody had made me a cup of tea.
“They gave us free, impartial, fair advice on everything you could imagine, from the tiniest things.
“Being spoken to like a normal person was just brilliant, not tiptoeing around us because people don’t want to say the wrong thing.”
Liam had synovial sarcoma, a very rare form of cancer, diagnosed in only one or two people in a million each year.
Maria, a local primary school teacher, said: “Liam was so much fun.
“He was witty, intelligent, hard-working and an amazing dad.
“He had great music taste, always knew everything about the latest technology, made the best Sunday dinners and loved a challenge.
“I know that if Liam was here, he would laugh and joke about how we don’t know what we’ve got ourselves into.
“But I also know how proud he would be.
“During Liam’s illness, the Knutsford community rallied together to support him, my sister and their two amazing boys, Owen and Kane.
“The love we all felt as a family was so special to us.
“Everyone became part of ‘Team Ward’.
Maggie’s, she said, was a special place for Liam and Michaela.
Maria said: “I remember they came home from another tough treatment at The Christie, beaming and talking about the most amazing place they had visited.
“Maggie’s was a breath of fresh air, an escape. Somewhere they could talk and just be.”
Mum-of-two Mel, a receptionist at a salon in Knutsford, said running helps her mental health and wellbeing.
She said: “I find myself in a sense of peace and calm when I am out running.
“I decided to do this insane challenge as a goal but also to give back.
“The Christie gave Liam a way to face the situation head on with the most amazing support.
“It is a very special place with very high quality care and understanding.
“I always remember them being so caring towards Liam and my sister.
“That’s why I must give back a token to say thank you from the bottom of my heard for everything you did for Liam.”
To donate visit 2024tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/melissa-hutchings and maggies.enthuse.com/pf/maria-wrench
Liam’s family has been overwhelmed by the way everyone has rallied round.
Michaela said: “The community spirit has been unbelievable.
“It has been amazing.
“It is hard. There’s always going to be an anniversary, a memory, but we just get through it together.
“If everyone can do a little bit, it makes a massive difference to somebody’s life.
“You are giving a family, sister, mother, daughter or son time and the gift of hope.”
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