WHEN Paul Sheffield noticed his mum looking a little pallid around the Christmas dinner table, he took her to the doctors and thought little more of it.

Less than two months later, on February 1, his family was dealt a devastating blow: Pat Sheffield, 82, had incurable cancer that had spread from her lungs all over her body.

The Kidlington grandmother was given eight to 12 weeks to live.

Mr Sheffield said: "It was so unexpected. If anyone saw her and was told how ill she was they wouldn't have believed you. She looked fine in herself."

Just as he and younger sisters Lynne Miller and Dawn McNish had confronted that shocking reality, their 81-year-old dad Martin Sheffield took a fatal turn and died from respiratory problems - just two weeks after their mum's diagnosis.

He passed away on Valentine's Day after one night at Sobell House Hospice, where his wife spent a week before dying on April 1.

Mr Sheffield, 60, from Witney, said: "It's tragic that they both went around the same time but I get comfort from the fact they probably would both have wanted that.

"My dad wouldn't have lasted five minutes without my mum and I don't think she would have coped either. His death massively affected her - they were lifelong partners."

Mr Sheffield now hopes to jog 136 miles for the hospice that gave them comfort, and will dust off his running shoes and pound along the River Wye.

He said: "Sobell was a complete change of environment from hospital. We spent every minute of their last 48 hours there, the whole attitude of staff was very attentive.

"It just prepares you for those final moments. Everyone there is in the same boat and understands the position you are in."

Father-of-one Mr Sheffield, who has ran more than 20 marathons in his lifetime including five Ironman Triathlons, will start his gruelling jog on Sunday, October 16.

The former plumber and police officer, who lives in Cotswold Meadow, will begin at Plynlimon in Wales and hopes to meander down to the river's mouth in Chepstow within seven days, stopping at hotels every night for food and rest.

He said: "There will be some tough stretches but when I'm feeling a bit dejected I will remember their last moments."

Mr Sheffield will celebrate both his and his mum's shared birthday en-route on October 19, when he hopes to be in Hereford where she grew up.

His fundraising page justgiving.com/Paul-Sheffield1 has already generated almost £1,000 of donations.

He added: "Everybody that's made a contribution has said what a good cause it is.

"It's about making Sobell carry on in order for other people to benefit as we did."