Story
<p>*** Keep up to date on our blog: <a href="http://3peaks4cottagehospice.blogspot.com" target="_blank">http://3peaks4cottagehospice.blogspot.com</a> ***</p>
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<p class="MsoPlainText">In June 2009 my Mum passed away after a two year fight with cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She ended her days in Greenwich & Bexley Cottage Hospice not far from my parent's home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a lovely place that imparts a feeling of serenity on patients, their visitors and the staff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While we were there not only did the staff do everything they could for my Mum but they looked after our family as well, providing advice, support and even camp beds if we needed to sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoPlainText">While we were there we often chatted with the staff and they all seemed to have a similar story; they'd lost a loved one and wanted to go to work there (whether paid or voluntarily) to do there little bit to make the same difference to others that hospice and staff had made for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They aren't particularly well paid, but they are all passionate about the care they provide. </p>
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<p class="MsoPlainText">The Hospice is entirely funded by charitable donations and it costs approx £16,500 a day to keep it running.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our family went away with an open ended invitation to come back to stroll the gardens, talk to the nurses, or receive counselling any time we want, and a debt of gratitude we can never repay.</p>
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<p class="MsoPlainText">Over Christmas my dear friend James suggested we organise this event to raise money for the hospice in memory of my Mum and our team of climbers/trekkers is now 5 strong.</p>
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<p class="MsoPlainText">The challenge is to climb Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowden, the three highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales in 24 hours, climbing a total of nearly 10,000 feet, covering 27 miles on foot and around 500 miles on the road. </p>
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<p>We'll be keeping a blog on our progress leading up to and during the day so please have a look for the latest news: http://3peaks4cottagehospice.blogspot.com</p>
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<p>Thanks so much for all your donations!</p>
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