Rosie takes on the Sheffield 10K in memory of her dad, Erik

When Rosie lines up at this year's Sheffield 10K, every step will be in memory of her dad, Erik, and in support of the care that helped her family through the most difficult time of their lives.

Originally from New Zealand, Erik made Sheffield his home and quickly fell in love with the city. He began his career building theatre sets at The Crucible before training as a teacher and spending more than 20 years working in schools across Sheffield. Supporting young people, particularly through Design and Technology, was his passion.

His final role as a DT technician at Oasis Academy Don Valley was one he especially loved, and he continued working right up until Christmas 2025. He died in February 2026.

Erik's cancer journey began when a routine eye test led to a diagnosis of ocular melanoma. He underwent stereotactic radiotherapy at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in December 2024, but secondary liver metastases were later discovered.

In an act of kindness and selflessness, Erik and his wife chose not to tell Rosie about his diagnosis until after her wedding in August 2025.

"I was incredibly lucky to have him walk me down the aisle and give the absolute best speech," Rosie said. "He did amazingly that day, and it's a memory I'll treasure forever."

Sadly, Erik's cancer became increasingly aggressive. Tests carried out over the Christmas period revealed that the disease had progressed significantly, leading to multiple hospital admissions and a move to palliative care.

Throughout this difficult time, the St Luke's Community Team and NHS community nurses provided invaluable support.

"The unthinkable became manageable," Rosie said. "They cared for Dad with such warmth and precision, managing his symptoms and pain so that he could die peacefully at home, exactly as he wanted."

Rosie has since seen the impact of that care from another perspective. As a student nurse, she recently completed a community placement in Sheffield, giving her firsthand insight into the vital support community healthcare teams provide to patients and families every day.

Having experienced St Luke's care both as a grieving daughter and a healthcare professional in training, her appreciation for the charity has only grown.