Terminally-ill Sheffield funeral home employee to take on charity walk dressed as Elvis

Chris Gott, aged 56, of Castlebeck, was diagnosed with cancer last October, and a month ago was given the terrible news there was nothing more medics could do for him.

Over the last 18 years, Chris has worked with hundreds of bereaved families in his job at Co-op Funeralcare, some of whom will also be joining him on the walk.

Co-op funeral director, Tracey Wilson, said: “Chris is such a good lad and is always thinking of others. Everybody knows him in our job.

“We’ve been doing lots of things to keep his spirits up and the walk is keeping him going.”

Chris will be completing the walk from Meadowhall to Co-op Funeralcare’s Suffolk Road city centre branch while dressed in an Elvis costume, in honour of his favourite artist.

From Meadowhall they will walk to Attercliffe, along Staniforth, Woodburn and Cricket Inn roads to Park Square roundabout, then past the train station and on to Suffolk Road.

Joining him on the walk will be funeral directors, clergy and florists he has worked with over the years as well as his wife Pat and family and friends from where he grew up in Pitsmoor.

The walk - which has been organised jointly by Chris himself, Tracey and funeral arranger Janice Mason - will end with a party at the firm’s city centre headquarters.

Janice said: “We are the lucky ones for having Chris as a friend. He has such a massive heart and even through the lockdown and him being poorly he has thought of others.

“It is an honour to have him as a friend.”

As well as the walk, Chris’ friends family and colleagues also arranged a flash mob for him where he performed Elvis songs while dressed up as his hero.

Chris’ walk will take place on Saturday, July 11, setting off from the Next car park at Meadowhall at 10am.

Collection buckets will be available along the route for people to donate to Chris’ chosen charity, St Luke’s Hospice.

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