On the 15th of November 2022, my dad, Richard, died of cancer aged 68.

The final days of his life were spent at Hayward House. Hayward House is Nottingham City Hospital’s hospice, and it provides a comforting and caring environment for patients receiving palliative and end-of-life care. The hospice relies on donations to make it what it is and to provide support for families. Find out more by following this link.

Watching life ebb away from my strong and lively Dad was very painful. The staff at Hayward House were so compassionate and caring, their support and kindness were so real and heartfelt, I know they contributed to making this extremely difficult time slightly more bearable.

Life is short, the untimely deaths of both of my parents, have taught me this. So when my colleague and friend, Ann-Marie, announced she’d signed up for the Geneva half-marathon, I decided to join her. Running has been a great form of therapy for me and challenging myself is what my dad would have wanted. He was never one for giving up and he taught me determination and resilience, values that have served me well during my life so far. I’ll be running with him in mind next weekend and if I can raise some money for a worthy cause while doing it, then all the better.

Thank you for reading and for your generosity.

Imogen