On Tuesday 16th September at 11 am, and at the grand age of 83, I will be taking to the skies to do a sky dive. (The wing walk I’d originally planned was cancelled as the firm ceased trading.) I will be diving from 15,000 feet and could be reaching up to 136 miles an hour on the way down. It will be a challenge, but nothing compared with the challenge of a terminal illness diagnosis that so many face each year.
My wife Gill was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in January 2024. From that moment onwards, Hospiscare was there for us. They supported not only Gill, but also the whole family, through every problem and worry we had. From helping with ways to alleviate the discomfort of the side-effects brought on by the cancer medication, to helping co-ordinate the local doctors, hospital specialist, community nurses and carers. I can’t praise Hospiscare enough for the care and attention it gave us. In Gill’s final days, Hospiscare worked with the care team to ensure she was pain-free and comfortable. They helped us and the family prepare for what was to come.
Gill died peacefully at home on 14th November 2024, surrounded by her family, which was her greatest wish. Hospiscare supported us to enable this to happen. They continued to keep in touch with me for a number of weeks to make sure I was OK or had any problems..
Hospiscare provides support for terminally ill patients and their families across Exeter, Mid and East Devon. They believe that every day matters, and their teams of doctors and nurses offer specialist palliative care to enable patients to make the most of the time they have left.
Hospiscare gets only 20% of their funds from local government, so relies heavily on fund-raising by people like you supporting people like me raising money through sponsorship.
Please do help me make a difference by giving whatever you can.
Thank you for your generosity it means a lot.