Hi all,

Today (15th Jan) marks 2 years since the bravest person I’ve ever known died, my 7 year old daughter, Anna. I’d say she ‘battled cancer’ for more than two years, being diagnosed with hepatoblastoma when she was 5, but I dislike that term as it suggests she lost when she died and Anna was not a loser. She can only be described as victorious in the way she tackled every challenge her illness and treatment posed with courage and even JOY - scootering to chemotherapy and using her suitcase for hide and seek when boredom hit during long hospital stays! Anna was hugely determined and adventurous.. she loved trying anything new.. skateboarding, indoor skydiving, sailing on our kayak to find the seal colony on Loch Swilly, and wouldn’t let her illness hold her back, for example managing to ride an adapted bicycle just over 2 weeks after being air lifted back to Manchester after having an emergency craniotomy in Dublin! Through both her life and death she has inspired and continues to inspire others, including me, to challenge ourselves to see if we can rather than worrying what might happen if we can’t. And so, having started running (hmm jogging really!) during lockdown and Anna’s illness as a outlet to de-stress, I am now pushing myself to try to #BeMoreAnna by entering the Manchester Marathon. In doing so I hope I am honouring the memory of one incredibly special little hero, but also with your help, I hope to raise some money for Francis House Children’s Hospice. This is a special place which has become so very dear to my family’s hearts as they supported Anna wonderfully during her illness and continue to support us as a bereaved family. Their sibling support groups have given Eva a wonderful means of expressing and processing her grief for her sister, and they will in time offer their support to Rory also. I have benefitted from countless hours of one to one therapy which just wouldn’t have been an option without them. Times are obviously financially tough across the board but Francis House just wouldn’t exist without voluntary donations. Last year it cost £4.2 million to operate Francis House, most of this money is raised through public donations and the fantastic generosity and support of the people of the north west.

There is a great need for children’s hospice provision in the area, and at any one-time Francis House has around 2,000 people receiving some sort of care, helping more than 500 families of children, teenagers and young adults with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions each year. Please give what you are able, so this amazing place can continue to do incredible things!

Thank you xxx