“My husband Dan and I took part in last year’s Moonlight Walk in memory of my wonderful mum, Christine, who received end of life care at St John’s Hospice back in 2022 after being diagnosed with a brain tumour aged just 53.
During the few months she received hospice care the team went above and beyond every day, not only to make sure mum was comfortable, but also to offer much needed support to the whole family. I had heard many good things about the hospice before, but only when I witnessed their care first hand did I truly realise just how incredible they are and how vital their services are for the community.
Dan and I had become engaged a month before mum fell ill, but wedding planning was a distant thought which became even more distant once we received the diagnosis. However, walking down the aisle without my lovely mum – my best friend, in the room was unthinkable, and so the St John’s team got to planning for me. What I thought was impossible was no problem for them, and after mum took a turn for the worse they had everything in place at just three days notice. None of us could believe what they had pulled off!
And so, in July 2022, we had the most beautiful wedding blessing held in the hospice grounds. The team had thought of everything – a lovely celebrant to host the service, a professional hairdresser and makeup artist to get me and mum ready for the big day, a delicious buffet and wedding cake, beautiful decorations and a photographer to capture memories which I will cherish forever. The team were on hand all day to make sure we had everything we needed – from little things like helping me in and out of my dress, to making sure mum was perfectly taken care of so we could all relax and enjoy ourselves.
No one dreams of getting married in a hospice but in that moment it didn’t matter where we were. It felt like a proper wedding – the most magical day we could have dreamed of and more! This was just one of the many amazing things the hospice did for our family and I will never be able to repay them, but I will continue to try by taking part in wonderful events like the Moonlight Walk to raise money to help them continue to provide other families with the care and support they provided for ours.”
The money we raise through the Moonlight Walk makes care like this possible
