I’ll be running for many reasons, besides fundraising for the
hospice, for positive mental health during a rollercoaster of a year. The ritual
of putting my trainers on now has a mental healing effect, for as much as I
hate running long distances, I know it does me the world of good- both calming
and uplifting simultaneously. I think we all need a serotonin boost these days!

I’d like to raise enough to fund a staff specialist
palliative care study day (£402) and will match donations up to this amount.
Honestly I’d just appreciate any friendly faces turning out on the day, so give
my thanks also to anyone who’d like to help. We can have a nice cold lolly at
the finish line  - mines a Mango Solero! 😊

My story:

Many of you will know that my Dad, Amarjit (known to
friends as Adjit) was cared for at Myton Hospice in his last stages of life at
the ripe – young age – of 60. He was an exuberant character, well known and
liked in the community.

He settled in Darlington in the late 19070’s/ 1980’s
having emigrated with his mum and sisters following political unrest in Africa,
and went to Cardiff to study, clearly gifted academically. He worked for 27
years at BAM Construction as a Civil Engineer, on projects including Kettering
General Hospital and the biomedical sciences building at Birmingham University.
He loved to chat and could talk for days.

Sadly he began losing the ability to converse for
lengths of time, and go about life normally because of a complex lung
condition, eventually reducing his air capacity over his two lungs to that
which would be normal for one lung of a healthy person.

He was cared for so expertly by the staff at Myton, that he
even showed signs of improvement and regained a little strength, after we’d
been told he didn’t have long left. The hospice was like being at home, not as
I assumed where people just go to die. It was full of light and warmth,
humanity and dignity.

They allowed us to have a few more afternoons of
conversation with him and for him to see family for final goodbyes. The staff
were mind-blowingly incredible at the job they do, and at making a bloody
difficult time for our family a heck of a lot more manageable by just knowing
the right thing to say at the right time when the world felt like it was
crumbling. I will always be indebted to Myton Hospices for this.

So, I implore you to consider donating to this worthy
charity and invite you to cheer me along in September. Hope to see you there! x