Two sons will join their father when they walk the Men’s March together in support of Weston Hospicecare on 9 March.
Elliot Adams, his brother Matthew and dad Phillip Adams will unite to take on the Men’s March this spring in memory of their mum and wife Alison who was cared for by the hospice before she died last year.
The treatment given to Alison, and to her family after her death, is what motivated her sons and husband to support the hospice.
Elliot said: “The hospice made my Mum as comfortable in the most difficult time of her and my family’s life.
“I spoke with her about how the hospice gave her peace of mind that we as a family would be supported in a time where she could not give us the support she wanted to.
“The hospice to me was, and is, an organisation and a home that offers support and guidance in a time where it seemed like there was none.
“The staff team is truly dedicated from the clinical team in the IPU, the volunteer base and the complementary therapy staff and more.
“I think the hospice represents a light to people experiencing dark times. However, it is an option that not everybody is aware of and not everyone is aware of the good work that is done there until a time where they are absolutely desperate for it.”
Elliot described how he found comfort in the immediate aftermath of the death of his mum from the hospice’s bereavement team.
He said: “Initially after my mum’s passing I received several counselling sessions from the hospice with specialist staff.
“I was able to talk to a professional outside of my family about what was happening and how I was feeling which was of great comfort to me. I stopped after a short period of time after a mutual decision from myself and the counsellor.
“The work the hospice offers should be more widely known and should be supported by the wider community not just the individuals and families directly receiving care from their services.”
Elliot also said the trio’s fundraising is all an effort to help the hospice continue the expert care and support his family received during the most difficult time of their lives.
He continued: “My father, brother and myself are so grateful for everything the hospice has done for my mother, us and our extended family.
“We feel from the support that we received it will take our respective efforts over many years to pay back the hospice for what they have done for us to ensure that they can continue to support individuals and families with the same care, respect, comfort and dignity that they deserve.
“Over the past few months as a family we have raised in the region of £5,000 due to different efforts and participation in events run by the hospice.”
The hospice has to raise more than £4.2million every year in order to support the expert and compassionate care given to those with life-limiting illnesses and their families. Only 20% of this figure is funded by the NHS meaning retail avenues, donations and fundraising efforts like Elliot’s must cover the rest.
The Men’s March is a 10-mile walk and will take place for the first time in Weston-super-Mare during the hospice’s 30th anniversary year.
Those who take part will receive a free pasty and a pint of Thatchers Gold cider at the finish line and then have an opportunity to watch England’s penultimate Six Nations rugby match against Italy on the Grand Pier.
To register to take part alongside Elliot, Matthew and Phillip, click here or for more information click here.