TWO men have raised more than £10,000 for Penarth’s Marie Curie hospice.

Businessman Nick Jenkins and friend Renzo Algieri raised the sum in memory of Mr Jenkins’ wife, Deb Jenkins.

Mrs Jenkins was cared for at the Penarth-based hospice two years ago after she was diagnosed with cancer, and died at home on June 29, 2017, aged 49.

Mr Jenkins decided to take on the 96-mile West Highland Way walk with his close friend Renzo Algieri. They set out on September 1 to mark the memory of Mrs Jenkins, starting a few weeks after Mr and Mrs Jenkins would have celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary.

The pair set a target of raising £8,311, the amount it costs to ‘Pay for a Day’ of care at the hospice, but have since exceeded their goal by almost £2,000.

‘Pay for a Day’ donors are invited to visit the hospice on a chosen day to see how their donation is used to support patients and their families, while a certificate of support bearing the donor’s name will also be on display in the hospice reception area.

Mr Jenkins chose December 22, which would have been Mrs Jenkins’ 52nd birthday.

He said: “Losing Deb was the hardest thing we’ve ever gone through. She was our world.

“We never thought we’d get by without her, but you have to. It’s so important that her memory lives on and that’s why we took on this challenge. The care Deb had from Marie Curie, and the support we received as a family, was absolutely amazing and we wouldn’t have been able to get through it without them. All the money raised will help them to continue the fantastic work they do and I’m so grateful to everyone who donated to us.”

The hospice cares for more than 1,200 people every year, along with families and loved ones. The charity’s community services also support a further 2,400 terminally ill people and their families in their homes.

Sarah Lloyd Davies, hospice manager, said: “We’re so grateful for every penny donated to us and we couldn’t provide expert care and support without people like Nick and Renzo.

“The hospice is here for people living with any terminal illness, and their families. Some people we care for stay at the hospice, while others come in for the day for clinics or support sessions.

“It truly is testament to the fantastic team that people continue to fundraise years after they’ve experienced our services.”