Young Leamington widow honours husband she lost 17 days after their wedding day

Steve Legge was described as a quiet man who would only open up to those who he loved the most.
Hannah and Steve Legge on their wedding day. Photo by Jane Murray photography. www.janemurrayphotographers.comHannah and Steve Legge on their wedding day. Photo by Jane Murray photography. www.janemurrayphotographers.com
Hannah and Steve Legge on their wedding day. Photo by Jane Murray photography. www.janemurrayphotographers.com

But his widow Hannah, whom he married just 17 days before he died of head and neck cancer, is now making sure that his story is known by more people than he could ever imagine as she strives to continue raising thousands of pounds for charity in his memory.

Electrician Steve, 22, of Leamington met former Campion School pupil Hannah, also 22, through a mutual friend in 2012.

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It was around the time they became a couple that Steve’s worst fears about a lump on the side of his neck were confirmed and he was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, a cancer in the back of his nose and medics soon made the discovery it had spread into his blood, halving his survival rate to three years.

Hannah and Steve Legge on their wedding day. Photo by Jane Murray photography. www.janemurrayphotographers.comHannah and Steve Legge on their wedding day. Photo by Jane Murray photography. www.janemurrayphotographers.com
Hannah and Steve Legge on their wedding day. Photo by Jane Murray photography. www.janemurrayphotographers.com

Determined to make the most of his final days with his adoring fiancé, Steve proposed to Hannah on her birthday in August last year.

And, despite his deteriorating condition, he bravely smiled throughout the day when he and Hannah had a cosy Christmas wedding at the Mallory Court Hotel on December 3.

Hannah said: “At times he felt a little bit sick and tired, but he was never one to let this show, so he just put a smile on and got on with it. He didn’t stop smiling.”

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It was then that the couple’s fundraising campaign began, with Steve asking guests to donate to the Young Person’s Unit at the Queen Elizabeth (QE) Hospital in Birmingham where he had been receiving treatment.

Hannah and Steve Legge on their wedding day. Photo by Jane Murray Photography. www.janemurrayphotographers.comHannah and Steve Legge on their wedding day. Photo by Jane Murray Photography. www.janemurrayphotographers.com
Hannah and Steve Legge on their wedding day. Photo by Jane Murray Photography. www.janemurrayphotographers.com

It was at the hospital that Hannah later met a reporter from a national newspaper and agreed to do an interview about the couple’s story of coping with the cancer battle.

And off of the back of that and the national and international publicity that followed more than £3,000 has been raised.

Hannah said: “Steve was very quiet and for him to open up to you you had to be a very special person to him.

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“But I want his story to inspire people he never knew and I have had people from all over the world getting in contact with me to make donations.

Hannah and Steve Legge on their wedding day. Photo by Jane Murray photography. www.janemurrayphotographers.comHannah and Steve Legge on their wedding day. Photo by Jane Murray photography. www.janemurrayphotographers.com
Hannah and Steve Legge on their wedding day. Photo by Jane Murray photography. www.janemurrayphotographers.com

“The response from the newspaper articles has been phenomenal

“When you lose someone like I did with Steve it feels like the end of the world but to think his memory can be used to help someone else makes it easier.”

Hannah is aiming to raise £20,000 to be split between the hospital and the Myton Hospices.

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It was at the Warwick hospice where Steve spent his final days.

Hannah and Steve Legge on their wedding day. Photo by Jane Murray Photography. www.janemurrayphotographers.comHannah and Steve Legge on their wedding day. Photo by Jane Murray Photography. www.janemurrayphotographers.com
Hannah and Steve Legge on their wedding day. Photo by Jane Murray Photography. www.janemurrayphotographers.com

She will be taking part in a fundraising skydive in May and is on the look out for other events to boost her fundraising efforts.

She has also been raising money with her colleagues at Warwick Hospital where she works as a pharmacy administration officer.

Hannah said: “I’m in a really good place at the moment because the fundraising is keeping me going.”

To donate to Hannah’s QE fundraising log onto www.justgiving.com/Hannah-Legge2 or to give to the Myton Hospice see www.justgiving.com/Hannah-Legge3