Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I have somehow found myself training for & eventually running the London Marathon this year at the end of April - a first time marathon runner, but I am wholly embracing the challenge.
And that is mostly due to one person - my Mum. My amazing, positive, inspirational Mum.  She brought both my sister & I up to be independant & fearless, to show & accept love, and to try to be the best people we can be.

Tragically Mum contracted Ovarian cancer over 10 years ago, and battled it fearlessly & always with a smile on her face, right until the end. She never ever gave up the fight, and even volunteered for drug trials, which I think she knew wouldn't save her, but would hopefully help other cancer fighters in the future. That was Mum.

She gave up her personal battle in March 2010, when she decided to turn to St Richards Hospice to live out her last four weeks  - a brave decision in itself. The care she received there was second to none - calm & patient care in a wonderful environment. 

Knowing that your life is ending is beyond my comprehension, but I guess you just want to know that you will be treated with compassion by caring staff, be as comfortable as you can be, and looked after with loving hands in a calm & peaceful environment. But also, the reassurance that your loved ones will be given guidance, advice, kind words, and ultimately a hand to hold through the incredibly emotional process.

This was 100% the case with St Richards Hospice in Worcester.  I will never forget how wonderful they were - a small but wonderful light in the midst of an unbelievably dark, searingly painful & heartbreaking time of losing the most important person in my life.  My best friend & Mum.  

Her legacy lives on in her daughters & her grandchildren, & I want to think that she will be so proud to look down & watch me cross that finish line, with a big smile on her face, fist pumping!  But also, that I can give a little back to the wonderful Hospice who helped to ease the pain, just a tiny bit, during that tragic time....

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