Story
My seventeen-year-old son (Freddie) and I will be running the Great North Run half marathon on Sunday 8 September for Marie Curie in honour of his grandparents. Marie Curie is the UK’s leading end of life charity providing care to people with terminal illnesses at home or in one of their hospices, and Marie Carie supported both of Freddie’s maternal grandparents at one of their hospices in Newcastle where they passed away within 3 weeks of each other during the dark days of Covid.
I’m sure you will all remember how horrid the days of Covid were. On top of dealing with all the challenges of home schooling and the general suspension of normal life, my wife Claire (an only child and with a small extended family) was trying to do her best for her parents who lived 300 miles away in Newcastle and who were both suffering from terminal cancer. Covid restrictions made being with them as their illnesses progressed difficult and trying to get help was incredibly challenging. When staying at home became too difficult Marie Curie stepped in - they were both able to go to stay at one of their hospices on the same day, had rooms next door to each other, and were provided with the gentlest and most considerate 24 hour care.
Whilst Covid rules meant visitors weren’t allowed – usually you can bring family, friends and even pets into the hospice for as long as you like – the staff did everything they could to enable Claire and our children to see them both within the distancing rules that were in place at the time. Importantly Marie Curie’s support didn’t end with the deaths of Claire’s parents. In the weeks and months afterwards their specialist bereavement nurses provided counselling and ongoing support. They pride themselves on being there for families as a whole, not just their patients, for as long as they need them to be.
As a family we had no experience of the power of hospice care but having witnessed their incredible work we want to ensure other people have access to Marie Curie’s help when they need it most. We’d be hugely grateful therefore if you would consider donating to help us do this.
Lasty, for those who know me – you’ll be aware I’m not a ‘natural’ runner and am fully prepared for the inevitability of being overtaken very early on by my son. Training has been challenging but the motivation is a good one and I look forward to it being September 9th!