My mum was diagnosed with a rare and incurable disease called AL Amyloidosis in the summer of 2014 at the age of 62. After months of intensive Chemotherapy she was admitted to Princess Alice Hospice for palliative care on Feb 2nd 2015 and passed away peacefully on Feb 16th 2015. 

My mum loved being in the park, walking dogs, marathons and running regularly. She had an energy for life and she encouraged us to be the same. She was very fit and healthy, until she wasn't. 

She was also adamant that when she was told there was no further treatment available for her, that she wanted to live out her remaining days at Princess Alice Hospice, a place her and my dad had fundraised for in the past and a place she felt safe. 

I knew little about PAH before my mum was sick, but what I know now I hope can help raise awareness to others. 

Dying is crap, and knowing you are about to die is frightening and heartbreaking. My mum was offered a cup of tea in a beautiful china tea cup the moment she arrived. The handmade quilt on her bed, the vases provided for you to put flowers in, offering a bed for the night for family members and a view from every room onto the garden made her final days calm and comfortable. 

My family travelled from all over the world to spend time with my mum during those 2 weeks. There were a lot of us, camped out in the cafe, taking it in turns to hang out with mum, not knowing how many moments we had left with her. Those were final, emotional conversations had, that will I'm sure stick with those who loved her more than anything and the space and time the staff, nurses and volunteers gave us was unbelievably precious.

My mum passed away quietly in her sleep and I will be forever grateful to this amazing charity for the love and support they gave me and my family from the moment we arrived and ever since. 

They care for families when they need it most.

Princess Alice Hospice provides a comprehensive range of services that respond to the individual needs of patients and their families, so that they can live life to the full, create memories, share special moments and when the time comes, support them through, before and after the death of a loved one.It costs us £10.1 million each year to provide free, high quality specialist end of life care to tens of thousands of people with life threatening illnesses. We rely on wonderful supporters like you to help us to generate thousands of pounds through participating in events like TSC London Marathon.