A six-figure sum has been raised for the children of a Wirral couple who died of cancer within weeks of each other, both in the same hospital bed. Mike Bennet, 57, and his wife Julie, 50, passed away at Arrowe Park Hospital and St John's Hospice respectively, leaving behind three children: Oliver, 13, Hannah, 18, and Luke, 21.
The children released an image of their parents holding hands in hospital during their final moments together. By 16:30 GMT on Monday, more than £150,000 had been raised for the siblings through a fundraising campaign.
Family friend Heather Heaton Gallagher said the amount raised had 'blown everyone's socks away'. She added: 'The kids are astounded, they couldn't believe it. They are seeing all this support coming from across the world and it's inspirational to them.'
Ms Gallagher said the children were being supported by their aunts and uncles, and the money would be used to help them through college and university. She described the couple as 'just so in love' and said they 'always made time for everyone'.
Julie Bennet, a primary school teacher at Sommerville School, was diagnosed in May last year with cancer that began in the liver and kidneys and spread to other organs. Her husband, a self-employed cabinet maker, had been fighting a brain tumour since 2013 and was nursed at home by Julie and the children until she became too ill to care for him.
The couple were admitted to Arrowe Park Hospital two weeks ago, where Mike died on 6 February. Julie was then moved to St John's Hospice and died on Saturday.
