Three sisters are sadly grieving after losing both parents just a few weeks apart from the same type of cancer. As well as dealing with losing both parents so close together, the sisters are also having to cover the cost of two funerals as well.

The couple died just over a month apart - and were both in the same hospital bed, in the same bay. Linda Christie, 63 and her partner Robert Quaife, 67, were both told they had lung cancer, and passed away from the illness not long after eachother.

Robert was dad to Joanna Helder, who is fundraising for her half-sisters Kelly, Charlie and Hayley. Joanna said the couple had been "apparently fine" for the majority of last year, but said her dad had ben feeling "a bit lethargic and tired in November but nothing major."

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She added: "He went to the doctors and was sent to hospital. There they found he had lung cancer which had spread everywhere. He passed away at home on December 5. On that day his partner Linda had a doctor's appointment for a bad cough. Tests then revealed she had stage four lung cancer and she died on January 12. It has been absolutely devastating, we are all just in pure shock."

Joanna said: "My sister Kelly told Linda as she was lying in hospital that she knew the pair were soulmates, and Linda smiled. She was in the very same bed in the same bay at the hospital where dad was taken; they were both diagnosed with exactly the same cancer."

At the moment the family are still processing the shock, and are unable to think about two funerals so soon - which was prompted Joanna so launch a GoFundMe fundraiser for her sisters, who live in London, which has so far raised nearly £2,000 of the £5,900 target.

"I have helped as much as I can with dad's," Joanna said, "But the total funeral cost was over £6,000. My sisters are now facing having to find a similar amount for their mum's. I will help as much as I can because she was a wonderful step-mum but it is proving hard."

The idea came from Joanna's own mum Mary, and Joanna added: "Dad and mum split up when I was a child but they remained good friends. Mum was very upset by his and Linda’s deaths; she had been a great step-mum to me. She said I should try and do something for my sisters to help them.

"The response has been wonderful and I am so grateful. My sisters are really suffering from losing their parents in such a short time." Joanna is now on a mission to help and has asked in the fundraiser for donations to help "ease the pain and suffering of my sisters and the whole family to give Linda a beautiful cremation ceremony.

"Linda was genuinely the most selfless person you could ever meet. We would be so grateful for any help you could offer at this devastating time. From the bottom of our hearts."