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Dad was admitted to St Catherine’s Hospice in October 2012
for pain relief. None of us knew that his days there would be some of his last.

As well as making Dad as comfortable as possible in those final days, the hospice welcomed our whole family with open arms. The incredible staff were always ready with a cup of tea and a shoulder to cry on. St Catherine's became our second home for a short time. After one unplanned and extremely restless night at the hospice, a nurse named Sam managed to find toiletries and makeup for Mum so that she could face Dad in the morning with a courageous smile. The personal touches are what get you through, and there are no words to describe the quality of care and support bestowed on our family during the hardest time in our lives.

Dad's final wish was to die at home, surrounded by his family. The staff at St Catherine's Hospice made this possible, getting him home with just seven precious hours to spare.

We are taking on this challenge because we want to support St Catherine's Hospice in their amazing work and help fund care for terminally ill people. We will be trekking 5-12km each day over steep and hilly terrain. We've been advised to train to a good fitness level before departure. If you know us, then you know that we are counting on your donations to encourage us to put down the biscuits (Johnny) and the Frazzles (Alex), get off our backsides and get training. "Operation Beached Whales" needs your support. As well as your money, we ask for your vigilance. If you see either of us fondling a Twix, we are counting on you to rip it from our fat little hands and duct tape our mouths shut.

Please give generously.

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