After completing last years Great North Run I said I’d never do it again, but here I am! 

This year myself, Paul Filenczuk and Chantelle Selby will be taking on the famous half marathon to raise vital funds for Barnsley Hospice.

On 25th April 2021 my sister Hannah Wilson passed away at Barnsley Hospice after a courageous battle with cancer. Since then our family have taken part in various fundraising activities in an attempt  to give back to the charities that supported Hannah, and us. 

You may know some of Hannah’s story. She was diagnosed at almost 30 weeks pregnant, and had to have her baby girl delivered early by C-section, where it was discovered that the cancer was far too advanced for any curative treatment. 

Long before Hannah’s diagnosis she had been in a huge amount of pain, and functioning on next to no sleep. She was exhausted from dealing with her symptoms, while looking after her young son, and frustrated by the lack of medical support.

On the day Hannah was moved to Barnsley Hospice she was agitated and uncomfortable. The doctors predicted that she was very close to the end, maybe a day or two.

Within 24 hours Hannah’s pain was under control and she was managing more sleep on a night than she’d had in a long time. The hospice team spent time talking to Hannah and her husband Andrew, about their journey and events leading up to being admitted to the hospice, about their wishes and needs, they both felt listened to. 

The hospice organised for Hannah’s baby girl Sadie to visit each day, transported by ambulance from neonatal care. Her son Jude was welcomed and enjoyed pushing his mummy around the corridors in her wheelchair. 

The staff arranged an egg hunt for the children, and a trip to the coast so Hannah could see the sea for a final time. A nurse helped Hannah write birthday cards for her children right up to their 18th birthdays, and also helped put memory boxes together for them. 

Hannah picked up enough to get out and about, go home, see family and friends, and visit local beauty spots. 

Hannah spent 5 weeks at Barnsley Hospice, and for those 5 weeks I felt like I got my sister back. The memories we got to make in that period of time are precious and priceless. Our family will never be able to express enough gratitude for that, but we can try our best to support them. If you could make a little donation to help us to achieve this we will be forever grateful.

Let the training commence, again! 😮‍💨