An inspirational father-of-two has died after a three-year battle against motor neurone disease, while his wife fights terminal cancer.
Paul Coulston, 40, was diagnosed with the muscle-wasting disease in April 2012, three years after his wife Clare was told she had oesophageal cancer.
Mr Coulston, from Ulverston passed away on Sunday, leaving his terminally ill wife to care for their two children Evelyn, seven, and Finlay, nine.
Before Mr Coulston died, due to their medical conditions, the couple were forced to take the heartbreaking step of making guardianship arrangements for their two young children, knowing that one day they would be orphaned.
Mrs Couslton said: 'We would just like to thank everyone for their support, not only now but in the days to come.
'Everyone has been there and supported us over the last few years and it has just made life so much better.'
Before his illness, Mr Coulston was the deputy head teacher at St George's School in Barrow
Aiming to raise awareness, Mr Coulston’s cousin, Philip Thompson, 31, from Newcastle set up a Facebook fund raising page to keep people updated with news about the couple.
He said: 'Sadly Paul passed away suddenly yesterday evening. His wife Clare and his brother Alan were with him. We are all still in complete shock. Paul touched so many people’s lives and fought hard over the past few years to raise awareness of Motor Neurone Disease and took part in a gruelling clinical trial to help find a cure for others.
Source: daily mail