<p>Dear Friends and Family</p> <p>Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.</p> <p>Some of you might be thinking that you haven't hear much from me in a while, so apologies if a plea for cash is the first correspondance we've had in the last 12 months but it has been a rollercoaster year.</p> <p>Most of you know my wonderful Dad was diagnosed with a malignant Brain Tumour in September 2010. Holding my Dad's hand while a Mcmillan Nurse explained that surgery was not an option and managing the tumour was the best that could be hoped for was a very dark day but my Dad as usual put on a very brave face, thanked the Nurse for doing a wonderful job, told me not to worry about anything and tried to get on with life as normal. So what happened next? Well he moved in with my mum ( yes his ex wife of 10 years - she is a saint) and carried on. A big part of the 'carrying on' was a weekly visit to the Hospice. Now until this point in my life I had had little contact with any Hospice but they are amazing places.</p> <p>The Hopscie became a focal point of my Dad's week - it was something to look forward to as he slowly lost mobility, it provided other people to talk to in a similar situation, a shared camaraderie, a place to come to terms with terminal illness. As&nbsp; the disease progressed the Hospice became essential to maintaining diginity and pride - gentle hands to shave his face, caring hands to feed him and supportive hands to offer a bath when he couldn't wash.</p> <p>The Hospcie is so much more than just patient care though - when my mother was diagnosed with Kidney Cancer earlier this year my Dad came to live with me and the Hopsice provided all the equipment to make that possible: hopsital bed, commode, electric chair - a builder to put down decking so I could get my Dad and his new ( Hospice provided) wheel chair out of the house.</p> <p>Last but not least the Farleigh Hospice provide the wonderful Mcmillan nurse's to talk to who provide support for the carers and other relatives both on the phone and in person - even a sitting service so I could nip out and meet a friend or go to school events an not leave my Dad alone.</p> <p>Dad is still fighting his Tumour and I hope he might be able to look out for me next April on the telly as I run my first Marathon for Farleigh Hospice.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>So here's the plea for money bit - I've seen first hand how amazing the Hospice is so please donate anything you can to help them continue helping people like my Dad - every pound makes a difference</p> <p>Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving &ndash; they&rsquo;ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they&rsquo;ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it&rsquo;s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.</p> <p>So please dig deep and donate now.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Bess</p>