This page is for all three of the wonderful Meg Ballard's daughters, Vashti, Lisette and Emily.

We are raising money for the Martlets charity, who supported our mum and us during her last weeks/months. With their support and that of the NHS district nurses, we were able to care for mum at home after she decided to leave hospital and return to her beloved home and garden for end of life care.

Mum was diagnosed with Oesophageal cancer in August 2024, after she had made the difficult decision earlier in the year, for our dad/step dad Eric, to go into care. She had been looking after him for many years, sometimes to the detriment of her own health. He had the cruel diseases of Parkinson's and Dementia.

She dealt with her diagnoses, health decline and treatments with absolute grace and dignity, whilst also dealing with the grief of Eric's death in November 2024. She continued to stay positive about her treatment, talking with her cancer and making lifestyle adjustments to be as healthy as possible. She wanted to live, to see her grand children grow up, be a support to her own children and their partners and to spend time with her siblings and friends.

After her treatment she had a few months where she was able to squeeze in as much as possible, a holiday with her daughters in Spain, a music festival with Lisette and her sister Liz, spending time with with there grandchildren including sleepovers with Ayla, and sometimes being able to enjoy food again. She found joy in reading, spending time in her garden and on walks, meeting friends for coffee and of course in her lovely singing group.

Unfortunately the complications after her treatment continued until we found out that some of the cancer was still left. She still dealt with each new piece of information with so much strength and she was an inspiration to us all. After trying all that they could suggest, including the fitting of a stent at the beginning of the year, which only brought pain and discomfort to her, she ended up back in hospital for 7 weeks, which was a very difficult time for us all. She continued to be hopeful and do all that she could, but she became weaker and weaker and in the end, decided that above all, she just wanted to be home. To see her garden again, to see those she loved the most and to leave this life surrounded by love.

We are so grateful to the support and medical care that was provided to mum from Martlets, the NHS and Macmillan.

We will be walking to remember our wonderful, funny, caring and resilient mum, Meg and to raise money for the amazing Martlets Charity. They rely on fundraising to provide their service so please give generously.

You can see more information about the Martlets below:

Southern Hospice Group is a local charity made up of three hospices our local communities know, love and support: Chestnut Tree House children’s hospice near Arundel, Martlets in Hove and St Barnabas House in Worthing. Together, we support children, young people and adults who have life-limiting conditions. We help those we care for, and their loved ones, to make the most of the precious time they have left together. Our expert palliative services support local communities across Sussex and South East Hampshire – at our hospices and in people’s homes.