Tracey raising funds for Steven’s Ninewells family

THE wife of a Dundee man who died in her arms has launched a fundraiser for the ward that cared for him.

Steven Cree, of Downfield, passed away from multiple myeloma — a rare bone marrow cancer — while lying next to his wife Tracey, 43, in ward 34 at Ninewells Hospital after bravely deciding to stop treatment.

Tracey, friends and family are now set to embark on a sponsored cycle to raise funds for the ward that cared for him.

She today told the Tele that Steven looked at those working on the ward “as family”.

She said: “He spent a lot of time with them and he treated them as if they were family. They are like family to me.

“We donated the money from Steven’s cremation to them but I wanted to do more, so we are going to have a sponsored cycle.

“He was really fond of the staff and it is about giving back because they were really great.”

The Crees gifted £800 to the ward from the collection at Steven’s cremation.

The 48-year-old dad-of-two had battled against his disease since he was diagnosed in January 2004.

The diagnosis was only made after Steven broke his arm while innocuously throwing a rubbish bag into a skip. Despite doctors only giving him five years to live, he battled on for 12 years.

He is survived by children Darren, 22, and Rebecca, 19.

The sponsored cycle in his memory will take place on September 3 and those taking part will be wearing T-shirts with his picture on them.

One group will cycle from Dundee to Arbroath and back, while the other will take on the Dundee cycle path.

Tracey is offering local businesses the chance to sponsor the tops and interested parties are asked to email twacey72@ msn.com for more information.

Steven Cree