My Story

On 3rd March, I'll be running 21km along the Anglesey coastline in memory of my brilliant Grandad, John Harvey, who received expert care at St David's Hospice in the final days of his life.

Not only did the Hospice staff treat him with great kindness, dignity, and (crucially) humour, but they were also there for us as a family, guiding us through this awful time. I can't tell you anything about medical care (which is obviously hugely important) but from what I've seen, when it comes to palative care so much of it is about helping the person who is sick retain a sense of who they are, when the physical manifestation of themselves is slipping away. Grandad was a huge sports fan - particularly football and his beloved club, West Ham United! - and so they chatted to him about the beautiful game, golf, and the Tour de France which Welshman, Geraint Thomas, was currently leading at the time! They got to know the name of all his children and grandchildren, and they knew facts about all of us when we first arrived. They would share toast with us in the early mornings to keep our strength up, and put blankets on us when we fell asleep in the chair. They made us laugh and they comforted us when we cried. They kept my Grandad as comfortable as they could, and ensured peace and quiet when he needed it. One of the most underated things about a hospice is you don't have to stick to rigid visiting hours; such a relatively small thing, but it makes all the difference when you have so little time left with someone you love. 

My Grandad supported me in everything I wanted to do, and he was a big believer in physical fitness! So, I hope this is a suitable challege to complete in his memory - I know it'll certainly be challenging! This is the first time I will have run any kind of event over 5km. I know what he would say: "All you can do is your best, kid." That's what I'll try to do on Sunday, 3rd March. 

It costs £5 million per year to keep St David's Hospice going, and to continue to offer terminally ill cancer patients and their families somewhere peaceful to spend their final days together. We never know when we might need such a place. Here's an indicator of what your kind donations might be able to provide:

£6 will provide nutritious meals throughout the day for a patient 

£16 helps a family member with a 1 hour bereavement session

£26 gives a patient a 1 hour physiotherapy session

£20 pays for 1 hour Inpatient/Hospice at Home care

£2,500 sponsors a nurse for a month

Every penny counts. Thank you/Diolch!