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On 14 September 2026, we received the news no one ever wants to hear; Dad had cancer. It was aggressive and terminal. We were told there was no preventative treatment available, only care to help manage his symptoms.

Within two and half weeks, he was too exhausted to leave the house and could no longer manage to care for himself at home. As a family, we began to talk about how we could give him the support he needed and how that could be managed, when a palliative care doctor gently recommended a stay at Katharine House Hospice.

Dad was at a point where the cancer was taking nearly all of his energy. The last strength he had was being used for everyday tasks like eating, drinking and going to the toilet. He understood that, with help from the hospice, those precious moments of strength could be used for what truly mattered; spending meaningful time with the people he loved.

When we arrived at Katharine House, we were holding back tears for his sake. But from the moment we walked through the door, every staff member welcomed him by name. He was shown to a room of his own with an ensuite bathroom, a reclining armchair, a sofa bed if we wanted to stay and full-length glass doors leading onto a patio area with garden furniture and beautiful grounds beyond. In those first moments, an overwhelming sense of relief washed over us. Dad was genuinely happy with his room and surprised by how bright and comfortable it was. We could see the relief in him and that seemed to give him fresh energy.

That night was the first time we had slept through since his diagnosis, knowing there were compassionate people nearby to care for him if he needed. Every member of staff at Katharine House was wonderful. They were caring, kind, approachable, upbeat when needed, quiet and gentle at other times. Their support gave our family comfort, dignity and peace when we needed it most.

With the peaceful grounds surrounding the hospice, Katharine House became our sanctuary for the final 10 days of Dad’s life. On 12 October, less than a month after his diagnosis, he passed away with us by his side.

Without Katharine House, those final days would have been incredibly difficult for our family. We would have been trying to care for Dad without experience, while also managing work and everyday life. Instead, we were able to spend time together in the gardens, talk with him in his room and share moments with friends as we listened to stories from their younger days.

We owe Katharine House a debt of gratitude that we can never fully repay. But with your support, we can help ensure that other families facing similar devastating news can feel the same relief and compassion that we did.

Katharine House relies heavily on the local community to keep its doors open. It costs £16,261 per day to run the hospice with only a third of that covered by the NHS. The rest depends on fundraising. The hospice supports around 2,000 people each year and your donation helps fund not only clinical care but bereavement support, art therapy, relaxation classes, nourishing food and the many special services that make it such a remarkable place.

We have committed to cycling from London to Paris in September 2027, cycling 60 miles per day over 3 days, to raise as much as we can for Katharine House in Dad’s memory. Every donation, no matter how small, even just a £1, will help make a difference.

Please consider giving what you can to help other families in their hardest moments so they can receive the same kindness, dignity and comfort that meant so much to ours.

Thank you and lots of love

Beccy and Brian