Daughter continues fundraising challenge in memory of her dad after Storm Austen cancels event
“I was sad that Starlight Hike was cancelled, not just for me but for everyone else who was going to take part”
A woman who was set to take part in a Sue Ryder charity walk before severe weather forced it to be cancelled is determined to continue raising money in memory of her dad.
Evie Lees-Fitzgibbon had been due to take part in Sue Ryder Starlight Hike Thames Valley at Mapledurham on Saturday 24 October in memory of her dad Mark Fitzgibbon, who received end of life care from Sue Ryder.
Sadly, the event was cancelled because the venue was waterlogged and further heavy rain and strong winds were forecast amidst Storm Austen.
Rather than let the cancellation stop her fundraising, Evie immediately signed up for Starlight Hike Your Way, which invites supporters to complete a 10k walk anywhere, in their own time and in memory of someone special.
The 31-year-old, from Princes Risborough in Buckinghamshire, is now planning to complete her walk on Sunday 15 November, alongside her aunt Jane, her dad’s sister, and potentially other family members.
One of the routes she is considering is the Thames and Kennet walk in Reading, where her dad lived.
Evie, who runs a dog walking business, said: “I was sad that Starlight Hike was cancelled, not just for me but for everyone else who was going to take part. I also felt for everyone who had spent months preparing and organising the event.
“For me, doing it another time on my own accord seemed easy. I wanted to continue with what I had set out to do in my dad's memory."
Sue Ryder has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from fundraisers following the cancellation, with the event still raising almost £18,500 from donations and sponsors.
Evie's fundraising is in memory of her dad, Mark, who received care at Sue Ryder Duchess of Kent Hospice in Reading for eight days before he died in March last year.
Describing him as her favourite person, she said: “Dad was such a kind man, extremely funny, very loud and everyone’s favourite person to be around. I didn’t know it when I was born, but I won the lottery on the father I got.
“The pure love and utter support me and my siblings got from him every single day was unmatched.
"He was such a positive person with a brilliant outlook on life. Even when things were against him, he always tried to find the light in any situation. He was pure magic.
"We didn’t need to be doing anything super fancy. Just being in his company was all I needed."
Before her dad went into the hospice, Evie admits she had found the thought of hospice care difficult.
“Even though losing my dad was and still is the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through, the love and care my dad received from all the staff at the hospice was truly incredible," she said.
“We were lucky that the weather back in March 2025 was sunny, so my dad could sit out in the beautifully kept gardens and have the sun on his face. He had his own room and we could have privacy, which I found helpful.
“Everyone at Sue Ryder Duchess of Kent Hospice was very kind and managed all my dad’s needs, even when he wanted his bed positioned and moved up and down 1,000 times!”
It was her auntie Jane who first told her about Starlight Hike, and Evie immediately knew she wanted to get involved.
Although the cancellation was disappointing, she is looking forward to completing the walk in a way that feels personal to her and her family.
She said: “To take part and raise as much money as I can to help other families going through a similar situation to what I’ve gone through seems like a no-brainer.”
“It’s nice to have the flexibility to get the perfect day and time to complete the walk when I want to.
"Being around family and friends feels special, and everyone in my life supporting me too feels lovely.”
Starlight Hike Your Way invites people to complete a 10k walk at any time and in any location, remembering a loved one while raising funds for Sue Ryder’s expert end-of-life care and support.
It offers an alternative following the cancellation of the Thames Valley event, which was called off to prioritise the safety of participants and volunteers amid the adverse weather forecast.
Ashni Parmar, Regional Fundraising Team Manager for Sue Ryder Thames Valley, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has rallied around us following the cancellation, and it’s been heartening to see people like Evie embracing our Starlight Hike Your Way fundraiser.
"We’d love for anyone who was planning to join us, or who wants to support Sue Ryder, to consider taking on their own challenge to help raise funds for palliative and end-of-life care and bereavement support.
"A big thank you must also go to our event sponsors Azego, Fraser’s Budgens and Holy Brook Accountants for their generosity and support."
Find out more about how you can organise your own Sue Ryder Starlight Hike Your Way event here: Sue Ryder Starlight Your Way 2026 | Sue Ryder