I signed up last Autumn to do a Tough Mudder with a group of colleagues at work, having been inspired to by one of our best friends’ Andy. It was a challenge on my bucket list for my 40th which I never did but when the opportunity came up it was a challenge I couldn’t say no to. Andy loved a challenge like this before he became ill, having received a cancer diagnosis in 2019. Throughout his brave battle he was always thinking of others and what we were all up to and never grumbled about the cruel hand he had been dealt. The last time I saw Andy I told him that I had signed up the 10+ mile Tough Mudder and, despite him being in a high dependency hospital bed and me being there to support him, the conversation was very much the other way round with us talking about the course and him being so supportive of my insanity of signing up to this!

Andy passed away in December having spent his final weeks causing mayhem in St Lukes Hospice, as only Andy could.

Having heard from Andy’s wife Sonia and family about how fantastic those at St Lukes were, not just to Andy but to Sonia, his sister Collette and his parents and family, not just whilst Andy was in their care but also after, made me think that if this Tough Mudder can raise anything that can help the hospice give that same care and support to another family at the most difficult time in anyone’s life then that is what I will try to do.

Miss you Mr O xx

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