AFTER Chris Lowe’s wife died last year from cancer at the hospice he thought a lot about how to give something back.

Fate soon found him, though, and now he is the café manager at the hospice’s popular Old Bank Café – and about to take part in a sponsored skydive to help raise even more vital funds.

Chris’ wife Beckie had successfully fought eye cancer 16 years previously but when it came back late in 2022, it spread to her liver, adrenal gland and pancreas.

She was ill for about 18 months but started to go downhill in February 2024. She had three stays at the hospice totalling about four months, initially for pain management, and the team were “amazing” throughout, commented Chris.

She also enjoyed the Wellbeing Hub where she had massages and other treatments with her Mum and made items for her children.

When she had to go into the hospice because of her condition - in the end, for eight days - Chris spent most of his time there with her.

“You couldn’t fault the care there,” he stated. “It was fantastic – the nurses, doctors and volunteers were all brilliant.”

Chris, who has had a long career in catering including at the Crimble in Rochdale and the Boathouse in Sale Water Park, had to take a break from his career to care for Beckie.

The couple have two children, Charlotte aged 18 and Alfie 14, and when Chris started looking for work again “the first job I saw was at the Old Bank Café. It seemed like a sign for me”, he commented.

Chris has brought his skills and experience to the busy café and has already made a difference with home-made pies and quiches, soups and cake among the menu changes.

The couple had met when Beckie worked in catering but she later worked in the care industry among other jobs. She was plainly a lively, adventurous woman who loved life and had herself taken part in a skydive for charity.

“She really enjoyed it and always wanted to do it again but never had the chance,” said Chris. “So when I saw that there was one organized to help the hospice, that seemed like another sign.”

Chris and his friend Sam Bickerstaffe will be taking to the skies over Lancaster with fellow fundraisers on July 27. His target was to raise £3,000 and he already has £2,900.

“I’m looking forward to it,” he said, “but I’m doing it for Beckie because I know she would have loved it.”