On the 19th January 2023, Horsham lost one of its beloved pillars, and we - the Fisher family - lost a shining light in our lives.

Ray Fisher, or Grandpa, as he was more affectionately known to his three grandchildren, was a well-known, well-loved member of the Horsham community. To us, he was the man of adventure, young spirit and the best hugs. To me, he was an inspiration to find the fun in everything, work as hard as you can in every situation, and to always want to win!

We lost him, after a short battle with cancer in January 2023, naively we thought he was destined to live forever, and his illness was a testing, if unifying, time for the family.

My most vivid memory of the support I personally received from St. Catherines was when Grandpa had received a round of immunotherapy, it was tough on his body and none of us knew what he was supposed to be experiencing. I called the hospice for guidance, and their team patiently talked me through the side effects, offering calm reassurance. Although the treatment wasn’t ultimately successful, their expertise and kindness in that moment were invaluable to me and my family. Other family members would able to detail different significant moments of support that St Catherines was able to offer.

When Grandpa passed, I contacted St Catherines once again, just to inform them. Their response was to ask 'are you okay?', a simple act of compassion that I wasn't aware I needed at the time.

Having worked at a hospice in Dorset, I’ve seen firsthand the extraordinary amount of funding required to keep these vital services running each day. Hospices like St. Catherine’s are a lifeline for families, providing not just care, but comfort, guidance, and empathy when it’s needed most.

If you’re able to donate, even a small amount, know that it’s going to an incredibly worthy cause—one that represents the very best of what our society can offer. We never know when we or our loved ones may need their help.

Thank you for your support.