A dad died just four months after feeling “under the weather” before being told his symptoms were cancer.

Girls football coach Dean Stonehouse began feeling tired in May last year, and by the end of the month his fatigue resulted in him collapsing. Wife Amy took him in for tests, saying “we still didn’t think it was that serious” – only for doctors to deliver the blow that the 38-year-old had stage four cancer.

The family were floored by the news, having no history of cancer and with Dean being physically fit and healthy due to his coaching at a local football club. Furthermore, Dean was never told the primary source of his cancer as doctors “just couldn’t find it”.

Dean tragically died at the beginning of October, leaving behind wife Amy and daughters Sophia and Leila, who were only 13 and 11 when their dad was diagnosed. The family, from Cardiff, say they are now determined to honour Dean’s memory raising cash for the palliative care hospital where he was treated.

“Dean fought every step of the way,” Amy told Wales Online. “He would say ‘we are going fight this’ and I genuinely didn’t think what happened would. He was always thinking of others and was the best dad and husband.” She added: “He was only diagnosed at the end of May and died at the beginning of October. We met at university and had been together for 20 years, we love him always and forever and miss him so so much, but we are determined to do this for him.”

“Having to tell the girls was one of the worst things I have ever had to do. Shortly after that we had the girls’ birthdays, and then there was Christmas. I had to get the girls the flowers for Valentine’s Day because that is something their dad always did. It has been so hard, some days it is hard to face the day and the emotions can hit you out of the blue, but we have so much support from family and friends. My work has been fantastic and Dean’s colleague’s at Mon Motors in Newport and Cwmbran have been there for us all. We just all want to make sure that Dean’s wish can come true.”

Amy said that, even when Dean was really ill, he had said he wanted to “get better” and walk up Pen-y-fan – South Wales’ highest peak. “He didn’t get to carry out his wish, so we are going to do it for him,” she said.

In homage to Dean’s wish, she’s planning a sponsored walk taking on the 2,900ft peak in the Brecon Beacons to fundraise for improvements to the family room at Velindre Cancer Centre in Whitchurch, Cardiff, where he was cared for. “It is a fantastic room, and it was great for us to spend time as a family and was less frightening for the girls than the ward,” she said.

“I know Dean would be very happy and proud that we are continuing to do this,” she added. “We loved walking Pen y Fan as a family,” says Amy. “We have had so much support already with more than 50 friends and family coming from all over the UK to take part. It will be a very special walk as we remember Dean and support a cause close to our hearts.”

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