University of Nottingham alumna died from stage four cancer while visiting family in China

A former University of Nottingham student has died in China while visiting family, after being diagnosed with cancer last October.

Gwen Zheng met her husband Matthew Newton while studying at the university and was said to have had strong ties to the community, reports Newark Advertiser.

Matthew created a fundraiser to pay for Gwen’s treatment in China, which is not provided free of charge. The couple had been running a public Facebook group, sharing Gwen’s cancer treatment and chemotherapy updates throughout her time in hospital.

Announcing the news of his wife’s death on March 28th, Matthew paid tribute Gwen online, who he said had been “brilliantly smart” and “the wife of my dreams”

Gwen had been living in China with her husband since the diagnosis, but she sadly passed away on March 28th.

On March 31st, he shared a moving post announcing Gwen’s death. Speaking of the hole her death will leave in his life, he wrote: “On Thursday, March 28th, my world shattered as the love of my life, Shuyu Zheng, was taken from me. She was not just my present and future, but the very reason behind everything I did. Coming to terms with the fact that I’ll never see her again feels like an insurmountable challenge.

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Speaking of his wife’s battle with cancer, Matthew said: “Shuyu fought valiantly until the end, displaying a strength and resilience that left me in awe. Since her passing, I feel like I’ve lost the best part of myself – the joy, happiness, and love she brought into my life seem to have vanished, leaving behind a void I can’t seem to fill. The mere thought of never being able to hold her hand, embrace her, or reassure her again breaks me to the core.

Matthew set up a GoFundMe to help cover the cost of treatment, as well as a fundraising football match held by his former football club, Southwell City FC, raising over £1,200.

A match on Easter Monday between Southwell City and Newark Town saw a minute’s silence out of respect for Gwen.

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