Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. 

We are doing the walk in memory of my father-in-law Kenneth Collier who died of bowel cancer in St Christopher's Hospice.  He was cared for by the Hospice both as an out and eventually inpatient over the period of a year.  He spent the final month of his life in the hospice where they ensured that he was given sufficient pain medication, where families could easily visit and enjoy the peace of the garden and light a candle in the chapel in memory of their loved one.  He finally slipped into a coma and then died peacefully free at last from pain and worry.  Nursing care is 24/7 and there are sufficient staff so that patients are never left abandoned on a ward like so many in NHS hospitals. 

Harris Hospice has just opened up its newly designed garden to give their day patients a restful place to sit, look at plants and water feature and just relax in their final days. Groups and short courses are also arranged for day patients to pursue something they have never done before,eg painting or creative writing and to help keep them positive and motivated.

At hospice staff have to be specially trained to cope with terminally ill patients plus the charity even with a large number of volunteers still has to pay for fundraisers, admin staff to advise on benefits and finances, and minibuses to pick up day patients. Only a small amount of money comes from the Department of Health, the rest of the budget is financed entirely on donations.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’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’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now your money will go to an essential service to help people who are terminally ill as despite all medical advances we still do not have a cure for cancer which can affect anyone at any stage in their life.