Many years ago, I worked as a Staff Nurse in this fabulous place and came to love it and what it stood for. In 1992  my grandfather passed away here. His care was first class, and the atmosphere was so different to anywhere else I had worked.

In July 2021 my younger brother Derek was alarmingly diagnosed with metastatic Ca Colon, with extensive liver and bone spread in spine, hip and ribs.  It was so frightening. He was hit with a huge bolt out of the blue at a time when my father was also dying..  St Oswalds Hospice took him quickly under their wing and although his disease progressed rapidly, Derek felt hope  in his ability to deal with what life had dealt him, once he arrived there.

The support from all staff from Consultants, Doctors, Nurses, HCAs, Volunteers  and Admin was warm, caring and constant for the whole family, and when Derek  died two months later, it still continued.  They have an amazing team including the wonderful Social Worker on site.

If any of us should ever need expert palliative care then this is surely the place to be, but it needs as much financial help as we can all offer it, and  so I decided it was time to put on my running shoes.

Please give generously to this very worthy cause.  Without it, I do not know what my family or I, would have done.  St Oswalds Hospice offers care for children, young people and adults.

My brother commented repeatedly during his two month stay how happy and at peace he was in the Hospice and he spent his last days both calm and comfortable.  Sadly, he died the night before our fathers funeral too, and if it had not been for such amazing staff, I would have struggled even more.  

To everyone in the amazing St Oswald’s, they deserve my own heartfelt thanks and admiration.

Please therefore support me when I take on the Great North Run for this very worthy cause, in September, along with two other family team members.

Derek died on 30 September 2021

My father died on the 13 Sept 2021

My grandfather died in August 1992

Thank you St Oswalds,  for everything.