My Story - Thanks for taking time to visit my Just Giving Page!

March 2018. So many things to look forward to - My 30th Birthday next month, my Mum had just received news that she was in a position to retire, my wedding in September!

My Mum “Julie Clements” was approaching the end of her 21st year of teaching Modern Foreign Languages at Bishop Perowne C of E College while also playing league badminton for her beloved Pitmaston Park Badminton Club. Due to my Dad Tony’s deteriorating health, Mum was spending even more time supporting him whilst juggling her full time job. 

Towards the end of March after a couple of weeks of antibiotics    to treat suspected divoticulitus, things didn’t seem right. Mum was always very active and she noticed a drop in energy which led to her seeking a 2nd opinion and subsequent blood test. Now in early April 2018 Mum was advised to go for a scan which identified cancerous masses on her bowel. After numerous hospital trips, scans and proceedures we were urgently directed to see a cancer specialist doctor. On my 30th birthday the 23rd of April 2018 we got the news that Mum had stage 4 terminal cancer which has matatisiced to her pancreas and peritoneum. The prognosis was that Mum had less than 8-weeks left to live. 

The weeks after were filled with panic, confusion and sadness. My wife Caroline rearranged our whole wedding for just over 3-weeks later. The scramble to sort out all paperwork. The serious worry about Dad and what lay ahead. Mum faced the illness bravely and promised me she would be at my wedding. 

Late April 2018, Mum was provided with palliative end of life care by St Richards Hospice. A doctor “Sue” would frequently come and see Mum. She was able to prescribe Mum’s medication, perform any checks needed in the comfort of her home and most importantly be someone for Mum to talk to. Still to this day I cannot quite say how much, not only my Mum, but the whole family appreciated the immense support provided by Sue and St Richard Hospice during her final weeks. Sue, very calmly advised us on anything we needed to do and gave Mum advise and support to ensure all her affairs were in order. The visits from Sue picked up Mum’s mood and she would really look forward to her coming round. 

Mum was extremely strong minded and determined and just like she promised, on 20th May 2018 she was there to witness me marry Caroline on what was a wonderful day. This was constantly in doubt even as close to 24-hours before the day but through the support from my Uncle Tim, Aunty Dawn, my cousin Laura and cousin Becky, who is a doctor and my mum was signed out into her care to attend the wedding.

26th May 2018 - only 6-days later Mum passed away at home in my arms, she was 58-years old. Mum’s funeral was attended by 100’s of people at Peopleton Church. Family, Friends, Colleagues and Former Students which was a beautiful celebration of her life.

At a time where the sadness made everything harder St Richards Hospice provided important bereavement support to my brother James and I, but then went above and beyond in order to assisted with aiming to get a diagnosis and care for my Dad’s vascular dementia. We simply wouldn’t have coped at this time without their help. Over the years I am aware of so many local people who have also received similar support and all say the same thing, “St Richards Hospice helps in the hardest moments of peoples lives.”

July 2023. The last 5-years have been hard trying to manage the grief, battles with depression, seeing my Dad succumb to his illness in April 2020.... I finally feel in a position to give something back!   Therefore, I have chosen to run the London Marathon 2024, my first marathon, in aid of St Richards Hospice to support this incredible organisation and the tremendous work that they do for the local community. 

Your support would be greatly appreciated. 

Matthew Clements!

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