St Joseph’s Hospice opened in Hackney in 1905, and since then has been caring for and supporting people affected by serious illness in eight London boroughs. St Joseph's have to raise £16,000 each day just to keep their vital services running and available to the 2.2 million people in our diverse community.

St Joseph's made it possible for us to care for my 96 year old Mum, Joyce, at home, right to the end of her long life.  She lived independently until the age of 94, but, with increasing frailty, moved in with us.  As her longstanding condition worsened, we were able, with St Joseph's support, to provide all she needed to stay with us at home.  The palliative care they provided was, literally, up to the last couple of weeks of her life, about simple tweaks and changes to medication, diet, and physio that preserved her quality of life - and she was totally up for that. When her inevitable death was imminent, it then became about a good death.

Palliative care and palliative care research are so necessary and in a way a model of medical care, seeing patients and families. Regretfully, it is shamefully underfunded - it is a place in which the conversations that really matter in healthcare happen.  

So I'm doing my bit to help!  I love running, and in the midst of caring for my Mum and a full on job as a vicar, it was my salvation!  
Please chip in if you can to support this important work.