On Friday 13th June I will be taking on a 24 Hour Workout in aid to raise money for Wigan & Leigh Hospice with the help from my Gym Community Crossfit Wigan.

Wigan and leigh hospice is a local chairty providing care for terminally ill and end of life patients. The hospice offer both medical and nursing care but they also make sure that patients and those closest to them have as much time together as possible and are able to create special memories together with their loved ones.

The daily running of the hospice cost approximately £18,000 but they only receive funding for a third of this, meaning that they have to fundraise £12,000 every single day. They do this through their shops, lottery, events, and through fundraisers organised by our community, just like this one.

In 2021, my mum was diagnosed with stage 4 kidney cancer. She began treatment, and for a while, things seemed hopeful. But a few months later, she started experiencing ongoing back pain, which was initially managed with pain medication. After many months without answers, In December 2022 she had also developed stage 2 cervical cancer. This second diagnosis brought intense and complex pain, and sadly, the treatment was not successful. In November 2023, my mum was admitted to the hospice, to manage her pain where she spent 13 weeks as an inpatient. Sadly we lost my Mum on the 2nd of February, 2024 on my brother and step dad’s birthday.

Mum’s time in the hospice turned out to be incredibly special. She had always been a home bird and was reluctant to go, as she associated hospices with the end of life. And while that’s partly true, we came to see that it’s so much more than that.

At the hospice, Mum received the care and medication she truly needed. Although we still had some very tough times it was made easier by being at the hospice.

For the first time in years, we felt heard and understood — they took the time to listen and respond to what Mum needed most. The hospice didn’t just care for her; they cared for all of us. Their compassion extended to the whole family, and they couldn’t have done more for us.

Mum loved her morning walks in the wheelchair through the beautiful gardens and feeding the squirrels each day. We were able to spend precious time together and make special memories as a family during her final weeks. I honestly can’t imagine what the end of Mum’s life would have looked like without the support of the hospice. Im doing this to raise money for the hospice to give back as i am truly grateful for what they did for my mum and my family.