Doing it for Dad: A supporter's story

As many will be treating their Dad’s this fathers’ day, one Mum from Blackburn will be remembering hers by putting on her running shoes.

Cheryl Schofield, 42, from Fernhurst Farm is planning to honour her Dad’s memory when she undergoes the 5km Raring to Glow run who cared for him last year.

Tom Dickinson was 69 when he lost his battle with colon cancer. He lived in the Livesey area of Blackburn Mavis, his with wife of 48 years. Tom spent about 2 weeks in the hospice, but daughter Cheryl said the idea of being in the hospice took him some time to get used to: “Initially he wanted to be cared for at home, but it got too much. He was struggling with breathlessness and fluid building up. A clinical nurse specialist had visited my Mum and Dad at home to give pain management advice and at first he dismissed the idea of going into the hospice. But he finally agreed to go in and it was such a relief for all of us. My Mum could be his wife again and not just his carer. Whatever care Dad needed the hospice were able to give it to him immediately and his symptoms were managed. They gave him his dignity back.”

Mum of two Cheryl said that their experience of the hospice prompted her to fundraise. She said: “It’s such a wonderful place. Although it’s associated with death that’s not always the case. But whoever does go there for their final days, they couldn’t have a better place. People in the past have fundraised to make sure hospice is still here. This is my way of making sure it’s here in the future for other families.”

Cheryl will complete the 5k Raring to Glow run with around 400 ladies and girls expected at the event on 4 July.

She said her Dad was aware she intended to take part in a hospice 10k run which she entered earlier this year and raised over £400: “I told Dad I would do it for the hospice as I got into running after doing the Couch to 5k last year. Now I’m doing the 5k I think he’d be proud of me. I’ll be running with my neighbour who lost her Mum in the hospice too. There’s a desperate need for the hospice and for me it’s so important to support it.”