UPDATE: Skydive rescheduled to 20th September 2025 due to chest infection impacting my 'fit to fly'.

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As a family, James, Jenna and I know the value of The Hospice of St Francis as they supported us through the last months of Richard’s life.

When I started volunteering for the hospice in 2008 little did I know Richard would one day be referred to them by his doctor and how grateful we would be for that referral. From that day Richard and I knew help was always only a ‘phone call away.

In January 2019 Richard spent a few days in the hospice and this gave him the opportunity to decide whether he wanted to spend his last days at home or in the hospice and he chose the latter as he saw for himself what I knew from having been a volunteer on the Inpatient Unit. On 13 February Richard returned to the hospice for what we all knew would be his final days and as soon as we entered the hospice we knew all would be well.

I can’t thank the hospice enough for their care of us. It would be wonderful if everyone was offered the care Richard had at end of life and which I can only say resulted in a ‘good death’.

Their care of James, Jenna and I didn’t end with Richard’s death. They checked in with us and I was supported with counselling.

I’ve had it in mind to do a skydive for the hospice for a while. I nearly signed up to do it in March last year but it was within a week of me becoming a grandparent for the first time so didn’t think that would be wise. I turned 70 last July and doing it during my 70th year and hopefully raising £700 seems apt so fingers crossed for a gentle landing!!!!!!!

Community Nurses came to our home during the latter stages of Richard’s illness and £40 could fund an hour of the Community Nursing Team. A specialist doctor spent time at Richard’s bedside helping with pain relief and finding out what would make his remaining time the best and £100 could fund this. £500 would enable the care of someone like Richard in one of the beds on the hospice in patient unit. If I raise what I hope to raise, or close thereto, it will cover each of the above categories which, thankfully, were offered to Richard and gave comfort to us as a family.