Kym Marsh is determined to continue her dad’s legacy. The former Coronation Street star was devastated last year when her dad, David Marsh, died aged 78 after a long battle with prostate cancer.
After his diagnosis, David was treated at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and one of his final wishes was for the family to reciprocate the support he had received from the vital facility throughout a difficult time. The Morning Live presenter, who was born in Whiston, has more than kept the promise she made to her dad and is embarking on the Glow Green Night Walk around Liverpool on February 7.
The night-time walk involves people following an 8km route around the city’s landmarks, which are lit up green to mark World Cancer Day. The event is part of an effort to raise funds for cancer research and Kym was set to be joined by her dad on the walk last year.
However, he sadly died before it was scheduled to take place and was laid to rest at a funeral service days before the event. Although the family was in the early stages of the grieving process, they decided to honour his wish and still attend the walk.
Kym spoke to the ECHO in an exclusive interview ahead of this year’s event and explained the decision helped the family start to heal after such a painful loss. The 48-year-old said: “I didn’t know what to expect for the first year and when we got there, we were so overwhelmed with what we saw and what we experienced.
“It was important for us to be there because we had our story and our reason to be involved. Every single person is there for a reason, whether it’s because they’ve had cancer or because someone they know has had cancer.
“Everyone has a story and it was such an emotional thing to be a part of.” Kym was joined by many members of her family, including her mum, Pauline, during the 8km walk that unites people from all backgrounds that have been impacted by cancer.
She said: “I was trying to say to my mum are you sure you want to do this. Is it not too soon? My mum and dad were together since my mum was 17.
“60 years of being together and suddenly my dad isn’t there anymore. It was very difficult for us all as a family and we were all devastated by my dad’s passing, but, to have imagined how my mum was feeling, I was concerned it might have been too soon.” She added: “My mum is 78 this year and I told her to just walk as far as you can and then we’ll make sure someone comes. But she did the whole thing. We were so proud of her and it was unbelievable.”
Kym explained everyone found extra motivation because they knew the cause was so important to her dad. Singers are on hand to provide entertainment along the route and the presenter recalled an emotional moment that made the family feel closer than ever to their dearly departed loved one.
She said: “There was someone singing Beatles songs and, as we turned the corner, they started the song that we played at my dad’s funeral. Whether people believe in that or they don’t, for us, it was a wow moment. We were like he was definitely with us that night and really did feel very close to dad at that point, so it was a lovely thing to do.”
David supported The Beatles when he was a musician for a band named Ricky and the Dominant Four, who are immortalised with their name on a brick at the famous Cavern Club. He was born in Widnes and Kym explained she is forever grateful to Claterrbridge for the way they helped him confront his terminal diagnosis with a smile on his face. She said: “The last thing you want is somebody looking at you like they’re already dead.
“I remember when my dad spoke to his consultant and they told him there wasn’t anything else that could be done and the treatment was going to stop. The consultant said to my dad, ‘Have you got any questions Mr Marsh?’ and my dad said, ‘Yeah have you got the lottery numbers for next week?’ He’d just been told this was it and there’s no more treatment, but he still wanted to joke and they still laughed and joked with him.”
The former Hear’Say singer is now determined to repay Clatterbridge however way she can, which is why the whole family are so keen to take part in the 2025 Green Glow Night Walk. Kym feels so lucky to have experienced the way her loved ones have come together during a difficult time as she said: “The week my dad passed away, we were all with him at home.
“Me, my two big brothers, my sister, my mum and my two eldest children. We were all there for dad when he needed us. We were there for each-other and we feel very lucky. It’s made us realise how fortunate we are to have each-other. It’s not something any of us will ever forget.
“It’s not something we want to sit and think about because it wasn’t a very nice thing to witness, but we were there for each-other and that’s what dad would have wanted. We were telling stories about dad and reminiscing about time, playing his music. It just proves to you how much family means.”
Kym took three months off work while she cared for her dad and then grieved his loss. However, she is now back on the stage and preparing for a stint at the Royal Exchange Theatre this spring in an adaptation of Abigail’s Party.
The soap star admitted returning to work after her dad’s death was difficult, but she knew this would be exactly what he wanted as she vowed to continue to honour him in every way she can. She said: “He would always always tell me how proud he was so the last thing I was going to be able to do was to not work.