For brothers James and George Illidge, St Luke’s will always be the place that gave their dad comfort - and gave their family the space to simply be together.

Their dad, Steve, was the heart of the family. Active, sociable and endlessly encouraging, he was someone James and George both turned to for advice, reassurance and laughter.

“Dad was the glue,” says George. “He always had a plan, and somehow made everything happen.”

Known for his sporting passion, warmth and sense of humour, Steve was a lifelong racquetball and squash player, as well as a keen Tottenham supporter, who kept himself extremely fit and active - and brought joy to those around him every day.

When Steve was diagnosed with cancer in 2024, the family faced a difficult and exhausting period navigating care and managing pain at home. It was at that point that our Community Team became involved, before he was admitted the In Patient Centre.

From the moment St Luke’s stepped in, James and George say everything changed. “Once we were there, visiting stopped being about managing medication or worrying if things were right,” James explains. “It became about spending proper time together as a family.”

The Illidge Family

At our In Patient Centre, Steve’s pain was brought under control and he was cared for with dignity, warmth and compassion. For his sons, it meant being able to talk, laugh and share moments that would stay with them forever.

“There were nurses and staff who just lit up the room,” George says. “Knowing Dad was being looked after when we weren’t there made such a difference.”

The brothers also saw the impact St Luke’s care had on their wider family - allowing everyone to step out of a caring role and simply be present.

After Steve’s death, James and George knew they wanted to give something back. After learning more about the millions St Luke’s needs to raise each year, they decided fundraising would be part of their dad’s legacy.

Since then, they have raised thousands of pounds for St Luke’s through marathons, charity runs, quizzes and sporting events - often inspired by their dad’s love of racquet sports and community.

James (second from left) and George (second from right) Illidge as part of the 2025 Great North Run heroes, and the Illidge court at Hallamshire Tennis & Squash Club in memory of Steve.

The Hallamshire Tennis & Squash Club - Steve’s club – has also been a huge part of the fundraising efforts, even sponsoring a St Luke’s court in Steve’s honour.

Fundraising, they say, has been about more than money. “It’s about being part of a community of other people also going through palliative care,” George explains. “We’re all dealing with the loss of someone really significant to us, but we can talk about it and help each other to get through the days.”

Through their St Luke’s tribute page, friends, family and the sporting community continue to celebrate Steve’s life by sharing memories, messages and support.

So far, the fundraising efforts in celebration of Steve’s life have totalled more than £25,000 – an incredible contribution helping ensure more people across Sheffield can receive the same compassionate care.

For James and George, the message they want others to hear is simple. “People don’t always understand what a hospice really is,” James says. He explains that for their family, St Luke’s was about dignity, reassurance and being able to spend meaningful time together – right to the end.

George adds: “St Luke’s is the best of us. Everyone is pulling together to do a good thing, with the same objective of trying to make someone’s day better. Until you need it, you don’t really know what to expect - but if you do experience St Luke’s care, you’re in safe hands.”