I have recently embarked on a fitness journey - trying to get myself into some sort of shape that isn’t just ‘round’! The 2024 Great Birmingham Run will be a little over a year after this journey began. Whilst motivation is currently high, a long term goal will assist further with staying on track; so I’ve decided this 10k would be a good challenge to tackle.

Of course, this also presents an opportunity to raise money for a charity that is close to my heart. As a family we have raised over £27k for John Taylor Hospice, and now Birmingham Hospice, in the years since my sister, Cat, passed away.  I’m looking to raise further for the place that looked after her so well in the final few months of her life.

Catherine died in January 2009 surrounded by her friends and family in a bed at the Hospice. Diagnosed with a brain tumour three years earlier, 23-year-old Catherine had been through surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy but the tumour proved to be untreatable. Despite her ordeal, Catherine stayed strong.

“Catherine was incredible, even during radiotherapy and chemotherapy,”  “She didn’t complain and was always making plans for the future. And what a cook! Catherine loved working at Moor Hall Hotel and worked throughout her illness.”

In the later stages of her illness, Catherine received round-the-clock care at John Taylor Hospice.

“From the moment we arrived we knew Catherine belonged at John Taylor Hospice, her room was full of laughter, covered with pictures, and the staff went beyond Catherine’s physical needs. She was nurtured.”

But Catherine’s death affected all of the family.

“When Catherine died our lives fell apart. John Taylor Hospice was there for us all and organised a counselling workshop so the whole family could begin to cope with Catherine’s death. 

“We have so many memories. We shared a very special Christmas Day and Catherine loved a New Year’s Eve party with her friends. She was pampered with a trip to the hair salon for highlights. Catherine lived her life well until she died.”

Birmingham Hospice is the new name for Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice and John Taylor Hospice. Our vision is a future where everyone with a life-limiting illness will live and die with dignity and in comfort.Offering personalised support at home, in local communities or at the hospices, we help people across Birmingham to live well with their illness, right up to the very end of life.