Thank you for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page your donation is very much appreciated and will help one of the most important causes there is.

Over the next year, we will be fundraising for both the Adult and Children’s Hospice in a number of different ways, with our final bang being an Icelandic Lava Trek. During this we will be trekking for around 7-10 hours per day, covering approximately 60km across 3 days of hiking, with the longest day being 24 km. We will be battling the elements in the highlands of Iceland, experiencing rain that lasts all day, blazing sunshine, snow and fog on top of the mountains.

We will have a variety of challenging terrain to trek through from rough roads, dirt tracks, river crossings, steep hills and rugged lava fields. After a long day of trekking we will be putting up our own tent each night to camp. Proceeds will be split between both the Adult and Children’s Hospice as we both have very special ties to these amazing charities. Please see a little bit more on our stories below. Thank you! X

Stuarty’s story 🌟 (written by Sarah)

14.02.89-26.10.22

In January 2017 our whole world was turned upside down. My husband Stuart, was diagnosed with a Glioblastoma Brain Tumour - the most aggressive type. After 2 surgeries and months of gruelling chemo and radiotherapy treatment, we were given the best news, that the tumour was gone. Three monthly scans continued and in April 2021, we got those forever dreaded results, the tumour was back - we were devastated. Stuarty never gave up, he had more surgery and more treatment, this time both a lot harder on him but he fought back even harder and once again we got the wonderful news that the tumour was gone. Sadly in April 2022, almost a year to the day from his last treatment, we got the news we were all dreading, the tumour was back and back with a vengeance, it was inoperable. Some of our darkest and hardest days followed in those next 6 months but Stuarty, a complete warrior, fought just as hard right to the very end and he never once complained. The bravest, strongest, most courageous person I’ve ever known lost his fight on the 26th October 2022, my babies lost their daddy and he is missed so very much every single day by all that had the pleasure of knowing and loving him. The saddest of days made bearable only by the kindness and compassion shown by the staff of the NI Hospice who we will be forever grateful and indebted to.

Our family never wanted to go into the hospice, we wanted Stuarty at home, we were scared of the Hospice and what it meant. But we were so wrong. I’ll never forget arriving to the hospice and feeling like a massive weight had been lifted - for those 10 days, I moved in too. The staff in the Northern Ireland Hospice are absolute angels, there is nothing more that they could have done for Stuarty and our whole family. They cared for Stuarty so attentively and they listened to all of our wants and wishes. They made it a home from home for us, especially the kids, they gave us time and some very special memories together. Ethan and Jessica were treated like V.I.Ps, so much so, when it came to it, they didn’t want to go home. Nothing was a hassle, even when I flooded the room with the en-suite shower 🫣

The doctors, nurses, health care assistants, chefs, complimentary therapists and domestic staff all went above and beyond their roles when caring for Stuarty and our whole family and I will never ever be able to thank them enough. So this is just a small thank you, a small effort to try and give back to these incredible people who gave us so much 💜Thank you for sharing our fundraising journey 🌟

Isabellas story (written by Steph)

My shining star 🌟 20.06.24-08.07.24

Isabella was born with a fetal abnormality that was deemed incompatible with life during pregnancy. However, my little fighter proved everyone wrong and blessed us with 18 beautiful days of memories. For 13 of these days, we lived in at Horizon House at the children's hospice where the care and attention of our whole family was unlike anything I have ever experienced before. Nothing was ever too much and no idea too crazy! As a nurse myself, I can honestly say these nurses are true Angels.The memories they helped us to create together will never leave us. We look at the hospice as if it is a sad place but if we could see it through the eyes of our children that opinion would change very quickly. There are no words that would be enough to show our thanks. On day 13, with the support of the team at the children's hospice, we were able to bring Isabella home to care for her ourselves, knowing we could go back to Horizon house at any time. Isabella passed away 5 days later in our arms at home, and although we will never get over losing our little star, we will forever be thankful for the times we had with her. It is my hope that one day I will be able to share our journey as although it is the hardest and saddest time of our lives, it is also the happiest and most beautiful time because we got to hold, smell, sing to, feed and love our little girl just like we where suppose to and her big sister Olivia got to be a big sister for 18 special days. We would never have got through this time without our amazing team of superheros!

Isabella was too beautiful for earth and words will never be able to describe how special she was or how unbelievably brave she was or how proud we will always be of both our girls. I will always be mummy to two of the most beautiful girls ❤️ and we will always have a part of us missing. Our hearts will ache forever knowing we should be celebrating and watching our girl grow and shine how we all know she would have. This is not something we have gone through this is our life now and something we will be dealing with everyday for the rest of our lives.

The hospice will continue to provide support to us for the foreseeable and in turn we hope to be able to support them by raising as much as we can. You never know what is around the corner or when you may need such a service but its time to be there for the hospice just as they are us. Thank you all again for donating and taking the time to get to know us a little more 💜 Please know your donation will really make a difference.

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