'Running a marathon is a perfect way to honour him'

Members of a Gloucestershire family are going to run a marathon for a hospice that cared for their loved one in his final weeks.

Megan Holmes, 26 and Shane Walker, 35, from Thornbury will be running the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris in April.

Cousin to Miss Holmes and brother to Mr Walker, Connor Walker died in his home aged 29 while being cared for by St Peter's Hospice, leaving behind his son Lucas, seven.

Miss Holmes said: "He [Connor] was someone everybody knew in Thornbury... a cheeky chappie but someone who would do anything for anybody."

In 2021, Connor Walker went on holiday from Bristol to Paris to attend the Paris Supercross motocross show.

He was diagnosed with melanoma shortly after returning from the holiday.

He had a brief remission following treatment, but the disease returned.

"It was his last holiday before he got ill, and it brought him such joy.

"To run the Paris marathon in his memory feels like the perfect way to honour him," said Miss Holmes.

She added: "He was really against going into a hospice. He just wanted to be at home."

She said his mother looked after him "round the clock", and when they reached out to St Peter's Hospice for support it was "like the peace in a storm".

Connor was honoured at his funeral with about 60 motorbikes circling Thornbury, shutting down the high street, while many people attended his service.

With the marathon in the new year, Miss Holmes said the race is going to be tough but says she will be drawing upon Connor for inspiration as she and his brother take on the challenge.