Leeds sisters' cancer charity fundraising walk in memory of grandparents

Two Leeds sisters  have raised more than £600 for Macmillan Cancer Support  memory of their maternal grandparents who both died of cancer.

Katelyn Powell, 16, and her eight-year-old sister Brooke, completed the 2.6 challenge after their grandfather Dave Hackett's death in March.

The sisters, of Allerton Bywater, walked 26-miles in five days, raising more than £640 for Macmillan via a JustGiving appeal.

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Retired joiner Mr Hackett, who was diagnosed with prostate and kidney cancer six years ago, died on March 16 aged 69..

Katelyn (right) and sister Brooke Powell.Katelyn (right) and sister Brooke Powell.
Katelyn (right) and sister Brooke Powell.

Their grandmother Jane Hackett, who suffered from breast cancer, died aged 39 in 1993.

The girls' mum Katie Powell, 36 - who was aged nine when her mother Jane died - said her father's health deteriorated over Christmas.

He was told in February that the kidney cancer had spread to his bones.

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Just four family members went to his funeral service on March 31 due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Dave and Jane HackettDave and Jane Hackett
Dave and Jane Hackett

Mrs Powell said: "The girls have done everybody proud, including my mum and dad.

"They are such amazing girls, we are so proud of them.

"We made a finish line after their last mile with balloons, gifts and a certificate.

"We have been through so much as a family but the girls still pulled a positive from all of it.

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Davbe HackettDavbe Hackett
Davbe Hackett

"I have been truly amazed by people's support and generosity."

Mrs Powell said her father brought her and her identical twin sisters Clare and Lisa, 42, up after their mum's death.

She said: "He cared for his family. He liked a bet on the horses and he liked a drink in his local.

"He was a quiet man who kept himself to himself."

Mr Hackett also leaves grandchildren Luke Willey, 15, and eight-year-old twins James and Joshua Durham .

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