Thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

In April 2011, just a month after our 60th birthdays, Mick was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer which had spread to his brain.  It was a shattering blow, completely out of the blue - Mick, who had always been so fit, lived a healthy lifestyle and ate a healthy diet, and just went to the doctor with a nagging little cough.  Despite palliative chemotherapy and radiotherapy, he grew gradually weaker and died just nine months after the diagnosis.  In his last two months we benefited from the unparalleled support provided by St John's Hospice.  Their 'outreach' team visited us at home and gave Mick wonderful, cheerful, gentle personal care and support; and for me they had sympathy, advice, support and hugs.  Mick's last two weeks were spent in the hospice itself, and he could not have received better care anywhere.  The hospice is a very, very special place and staffed by very, very special people.  There are not words enough to express my gratitude for all they did in Mick's last weeks.  And I continue to benefit from the wonderful support provided by their bereavement counselling team.  

I'm joining the Hospice's walk across Morecambe Bay (from Hest Bank to Grange-over-Sands) in support of their fundraising.  It is about the most appropriate thing I could do in Mick's memory:  he loved walking; he raised money for the Grand Theatre in Lancaster by walking the length of Hadrian's Wall, and we'd both crossed the Bay together once before, a few years ago.  I know he'd thoroughly approve of this effort.

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.

Please dig deep and donate now - there are so many people who need the care and support the hospice provides, but they rely solely on donations from you and me.  And one day we all might just need their support.