Sheffield man, Richard, takes 100‑coffee challenge to France

Sheffielder, Richard, is travelling to France to take on a deeply personal fundraising challenge in memory of his wife, after the care she received at St Luke’s Hospice inspired him to give back.

Richard Scholey, 78, whose wife Margaret died at St Luke’s in September 2025, is setting himself the challenge of having coffee with 100 strangers while practising his French – all to raise vital funds for Sheffield’s Hospice.

Margaret was cared for at St Luke’s for nine days after being diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease earlier in 2025. Richard says the compassion and dignity shown to Margaret – and to their family – during that time left a lasting impression.

“Margaret’s treatment at St Luke’s Hospice was incredible,” Richard said. “I was able to stay with her the whole nine days she was a patient. Our family, friends and, in particular, Margaret, were cared for in the most wonderful fashion. She was allowed to die with her dignity intact.”

Following Margaret’s death on 26 September 2025, Richard became determined to raise awareness of hospice funding and to ensure others could receive the same care his wife did.

After learning that St Luke’s must raise over £11million every year to continue providing care across Sheffield, he began writing to MPs, the Archbishop of Canterbury and other key figures, before deciding to take on a fundraising challenge of his own.

“I’m 78, so I’m too old to run,” Richard explained. “Walking involves hills, a Channel swim is out because I can only do five metres, so I tried to think of what else I could do.”

The answer came from memories of time spent in France with Margaret. Married for 55 years, the couple visited France every year, and Margaret was a fluent French speaker.

“Margaret loved France, and she spoke French beautifully,” said Richard. “I never really learned properly, so I decided I’d give it a go.”

Richard has been taking French lessons and, throughout the month of May, will be staying in Loches, a place the couple visited together. While there, he plans to approach strangers, ask them to have a coffee with him and practise his French – aiming for 100 coffees in total, around three a day. He’ll be armed with a St Luke’s mug and T-shirt, and hopes to capture photos along the way.

Friends describe Richard, a retired Deputy Headteacher, as a “people person” – something that should come in handy for the challenge.

“I’ll be asking people if they’ll have a coffee with me so I can practise my French,” he said. “By sponsoring me in this 100 coffees challenge, people will be helping St Luke’s reach their fundraising goal and support families across Sheffield.”

Before he has even set foot in France, Richard has already raised more than £3,100 towards his £4,000 target.

Reflecting on what Margaret would think of his fundraising effort, Richard smiled: “She’d probably be annoyed that I’ve paid for Flexi Plus travel when we always used to get the tunnel,” he said. “But she’d be amazed that I’m doing the French.”

During his trip, Richard will also be taking some of Margaret’s ashes to France to scatter them, as she wished.

“I can’t say enough how wonderful St Luke’s were,” Richard added. “People hear the word ‘hospice’ and think it’s somewhere you go to die. But it’s a place you may go to die with dignity and care, and your whole family is so well looked after. I want to make sure other families get that same support.”

To support Richard’s 100 coffees challenge, you can visit his JustGiving page at: www.justgiving.com/page/richard-scholey-1