Month: April 2018

A Weston woman who lost both of her parents to cancer will trek 20 miles across the Mendips to help ensure other people can ‘continue to get amazing support’ from Weston Hospicecare.

Hannah Scriven was just nine when her mum Lois died of breast cancer, while she lost her dad Michael to throat cancer when she was 17.

Both Lois and Michael spent their final days at Weston Hospicecare, and Hannah – who is now 21 – is supporting the hospice by taking part in the Mendip Challenge on June 3.

The event will see hundreds of people trekking along the West Mendip Way to raise money, and Hannah says she is determined to collect ‘as much money as possible’ on the charity’s behalf.

She said: “Both my mum and dad stayed at Weston Hospicecare in their final days, and the support they – and the whole family – received on both occasions was outstanding. Lives get turned upside down, and they ensure it is as easy as possible.

“My mum suffered from breast cancer for years, going through numerous rounds of chemotherapy and operations.

“The pain I used to see her in used break my heart, but she used to stay so positive. She dealt with anything that hit her and still continued to look after us and still worked so hard as a teacher.

“What’s hard is the memories I have of her mainly consist of her being unwell and going to hospital. I hear many stories about what she was like and the quirky aspects to her personality, but because of that awful disease I never really got the chance to witness it myself.

“I know she was an unbelievable person, but it would’ve been wonderful to have learned more from her.

“Losing your mum at nine is never easy, but my dad took on the role of washing duty very well! Working as a headteacher and looking after two teenagers was a huge task, but he did it so well.

“As soon as my dad retired he sadly got diagnosed with throat cancer and had to go through radiotherapy, resulting in him having his voicebox removed. This meant he no longer sounded like dad and couldn’t taste food like he used to.

“After a year and a half he died, just before my 18^th birthday, which was a huge shock as we all thought he would’ve got through it.

“It hit me hard and continues to do so, because we became so unbelievably close. I was without doubt a daddy’s girl.”

Hannah (pictured above with Michael and Lois) will be taking on the 20-mile route in the Mendip Challenge this summer to say thank you to those who help cared for her parents as their health deteriorated.

She said: “In my mum and dad’s final days and weeks, Weston Hospicecare went above and beyond to make them feel loved. I cannot put into words the care they provide and the way they make the whole family feel.

“Every person who works there is unbelievable. I couldn’t have asked for a better place to say goodbye.

“This is the first time I’ve signed up to an event to fully support the hospice as I know it’s going to be an emotional day to say the least, but it’s going to be brilliant.

“The perspective I have on life now is love everyone, and love them so hard. Talk about stuff when you want to talk, and just because the people you want here aren’t, it does mean that life is over.

“I would do anything to have them back but I can’t – however, what I can do is raise as much money as possible to ensure other families who go through this continue to get the amazing support that they receive from the hospice.”

The Mendip Challenge takes place on June 3, and walkers can choose between 30, 20 and 10-mile routes along the West Mendip Way. You can find out more about the event or register (which costs £15), here.

Anyone who would like to support Hannah’s fundraising efforts should visit her Just Giving page.