Walk for Life – Farleigh Hospice – Our First Hadrian’s Wall Training Event

When Mum was told that she would not be receiving chemo for the Ovarian Cancer and that she would be receiving palliative care it was her last wish to make it home for her final days.

When Mum was first diagnosed in January she had to cancel her long-awaited holiday on a cruise ship so she had asked that she could go home and have people visit her in holiday clothes where we could all talk about happier times and see the view from her garden stretching across Roxwell, Chelmsford and to Danbury. We spent quite a few days waiting for a palliative care package to be put together and were so scared that she would not make it home. Unfortunately most of the usual support networks didn’t have anyone free in the Chelmsford area as Mum was at Broomfield Hospital and the waiting list was long. We were desperate to get Mum home and give her the holiday at home that she we had promised her. The hospital ward arranged with the IT department to have a projector bought in to the room and have holiday images put up on to the hospital wall. We are so thankful for that very thoughtful and touching gesture. Everyone who visited had to wear their holiday best. Finally we heard that Mum would be going home and that Farleigh Hospice would be supporting her and providing the care that her and my family so greatly needed.

From the moment we got Mum home she seemed to release so much tension. The support we got from Farleigh hospice was invaluable and without them we would not have got Mum home. My family is so grateful for everything that they did. They do not normally provide at home care but they helped us fulfill my Mums final wish.

When Mum passed away both me and Dad wanted to do something to show our support to Farleigh Hospice. We had already decided we would do the Hadrian’s Wall walk for Cancer Research and wanted to do something in training for it and to support Farleigh Hospice. So when we heard that they were doing a 12k Walk For Life we signed up. Dad had never done anything like it before and hadn’t walked that far for a long time. I have Osteoarthritis in my Knees and both me and my Dad are diabetic. So we started training and building up to their event. Great training for Hadrian’s Wall.

 

 

We raised a total of £897.75 for them and completed the walk in great time. I was so proud of my Dad as this was his first fundraising event like this. It was a very emotional day and I was so proud to walk through the finish line holding his hand. I hope that the money we raised helps other families finding themselves in the situation that we did. Thank you Farleigh Hospice.

About Farleigh Hospice:

Farleigh Hospice aims to enable people affected by life limiting illnesses to live as positively and independently as possible. Our work is about supporting patients, their families and carers in a variety of ways. We offer a wide range of services which are all provided entirely free of charge and tailored to meet the individual needs of the patient, and their family.

Patients can call on our services at any stage of their illness and the bereaved can ask for help at any stage of their bereavement.

The majority of our care is provided inside patients’ own homes. Patients and relatives can dip in and out of our services as they need them – as our patients say, ‘help is always just a phone call away‘.

Illness can be stressful and isolating, both for the person themselves and their family. If you have been diagnosed with a life limiting illness, Farleigh Hospice can help. That help includes:

• Someone to talk to about how you are feeling
• Someone who can explain about your illness and treatments and answer any questions you may have
• Welfare Benefits Advice & Support
• Support and encouragement to live and enjoy your life as much as possible
• Referral to and liaison with other services you may need, for example, community nursing

Our services are tailored around each individual’s needs and aim to take into account any problems that might be encountered.  You might need support with symptoms, financial advice, equipment to enable you to cope at home or a chance to talk through any fears ~ whatever the problem we are here to help.

Farleigh Hospice Website

Sponsor us for our Hadrian’s Wall Walk on the 31st May 2017- 84 miles – our biggest challenge yet!