‘Summer last year our world was blown apart when we received the devastating news that, at the age of just 51, Owen had stage 4 incurable bowel cancer.

The cancer progressed quickly and in September he was placed under the palliative care of the Farleigh team. Owen hated hospitals and had very little patience with the medical profession by this point but Farleigh exceeded all his expectations.

From the moment he was under their care we felt that we had someone looking after us, the care, compassion and warmth of the team gave us both comfort in the darkest of days, not just looking after him but also offering me and those closest to him support.

He was admitted to the hospice on the 28th December 2022 and the one to one care and their determination to make him comfortable and to give him the dignity he deserved was heart warming. The hospice allowed me and his family to spend every moment of every day with him, for which I will be forever grateful.

Owen sadly died on the 5th January 2023 surrounded by me and his family.

No one ever expects or wants to be in the position where hospice care is required for someone they love but their compassion and empathy not only for Owen but for his loved ones brought some light in to a very dark time.

Farleigh Hospice is a registered charity (no. 284670) which provides hospice care to people affected by life-limiting illnesses across mid Essex.

They help patients to live as actively as possible from the point of diagnosis to the end of their life, by providing physical and emotional care, free of charge.

With approximately 40% of their yearly running costs being funded by the local NHS, they rely on the support and goodwill of the local mid Essex community to contribute to the £16,500 it costs to provide their services each day.