Heartbreak as bride dies of cancer before first wedding anniversary
“I will make sure her name won't be forgotten”
The heartbroken husband of brave Worksop woman Claire Creighton, who died last week, has told how his late wife's name will live on within a 'Claire's Wish' foundation to support young families stricken by cancer.
As he faces his first wedding anniversary on September 6 without his beloved Claire, Dan Creighton has spoken of his determination to honour her last wishes, and to fundraise annually, with others, through feats of physical endurance.
He hopes 'Claire's Wish' will in time become a national charity.
Dan, 39, will spend his special date on Sunday with his daughter, at Claire's favourite place, Mount Snowdon in Wales, as the pair plan to climb it in memory of 40-year-old Claire, who showed exceptional strength during her cancer battle.
Claire died peacefully at home on August 26, surrounded by her closest family, said Dan, after becoming "just too tired to go on".
The couple had been fundraising successfully for a treatment in Israel that could have potentially helped Claire, but she became too weak to travel.
"It was a tough pill to swallow," said Dan. "The last two weeks were very difficult ones for her. There's now a massive void in me that can't be filled.
"Claire did so well throughout her illness this last four years, and she wanted to help other families. I will make sure her name won't be forgotten."
Dan and Claire met in July, 2023, while on a camping trip with a hikers' group for singles, some of whom are to do a memorial walk for Claire this week.
Claire had already been diagnosed with a stage two melanoma from a simple mole on her shin, and had had no previous health issues.
A year on, however, it was discovered the cancer had spread, and a string of surgeries and immunotherapy treatments followed.
The Christie medical team in Manchester continued to search for options that might help Claire as her condition worsened, but sadly it was not to be.
Claire spent as much time as she could with Dan, her daughter Hadley, Dan's daughter Phoebe, and close family in her final weeks.
"I had made special plans for our wedding anniversary," said Dan. "I had ironed my suit, and as Claire was housebound I was going to cook her a meal while wearing my suit.
"It took me so long to find someone so amazing as Claire - I thought there would never be someone for me, with whom I could be myself and be so happy.
"This last three-and-a-half years have been the best of my life and I've no regrets about any of the time we had together. I was always happy when I was with Claire and she saw me that way, right up to the end."
Dan, a property maintenance contractor, had raised over £107,000 himself by undertaking six 'impossible challenges' such as climbing 15 Welsh mountains over 4,000 feet high in 24 hours and a six-hour ultra marathon.
Funeral details are not yet finalised but it will take place within the Worksop area, Dan confirmed, adding: "So many friends have supported us these last months and invested in Claire's story. I know there will be many people wanting to attend, and I'm speaking with Claire's family to decide the details.