Dad has come home the hospice today, which is a pretty perfect valentine's present. He’s been admitted twice in a month, and says he feels like a bit of a fraud; not many people are able to walk out of there feeling better than when they went in. 

If you missed my cringe-worthy appearances on Radio 4 and BBC News last year to raise awareness, you might not know that my dad has late stage motor neurone disease. He is 62, and was recently awarded his PhD. He has bulbar-onset MND, for which the life expectancy is roughly 3 years from onset of symptoms. Dad was diagnosed in June 2015, a year after his symptoms started. The maths don't bode well. 

Until last year I had never been to the hospice. I was unaware of what happened there, except for elderly people going there to be cared for at the end of life and dear old ladies knitting tea cosies. In the last 6 months I’ve had counselling, been offered beauty therapy, art exhibitions and music concerts there. And dad has been offered more jelly and ice-cream than your average 7 year old. 

We joke that there is nowhere to go and cry in that place without someone finding you and offering you a hug and comforting words, usually followed immediately by a cup of tea. 

So much tea… (what do hospices do in countries where they don’t drink tea?!)

It is a phenomenal place. I hope to be able to give back even a fraction of the endless support they have given me and my family in the last year by raising as much money as I can in aid of Walk the Wight this May. Any contribution you can give this incredible charity would make every step a little easier for me. Please send your hard earned pennies over to my justgiving page. 

Thank you so much. And well done for reading my ramblings. Peace out X

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.