Jaime all set to Rock and Roll for the Hospice
Long term hospice Supporter Jaime Eaves is gearing up to take on her latest challenge next month when she will run the Liverpool Rock and Roll ½ Marathon on 24th October 2021.
Jaime who originates from Blackburn, is no stranger to fundraising for the hospice and has many events under her belt all of which she does in memory of her beloved Grandma who was cared for here.
In the summer of 2017, Jaime’s Grandad became unwell and spent a short spell in hospital, which at the time was the longest period that he and Jaime’s Grandma had spent apart. Whilst he was in hospital, Jaime’s Grandma too became unwell and was later diagnosed with a brain tumour. Jaime says of her Grandma “Grandma didn’t stop until she had to!” and when she opted not to undergo treatment, the family rallied round her deciding to bring Jaime’s birthday celebrations as well as Christmas forward, which her grandma loved, so that the events could be enjoyed as a family as they always were.
Ten days before Christmas, Jaime’s Grandma was admitted to the hospice and Jaime says “we quickly got into a visiting routine. One thing we will always be thankful for, is that we could go in any day at any time which would not have been possible at a hospital. It made it so much easier for us as all. We even took in our own Christmas decorations and we went through so many batteries with all our Christmas lights! On Christmas day we brought in a buffet and also enjoyed food kindly provided by a local Asian School. At one point there were about twelve of us in my Grandma’s room! We will always be so grateful to the hospice for giving us that extra time as a family to be with my Grandma. It made such a difference to our family!”
On 14th January 2018, just a little under a month after being admitted to the hospice, Jaime’s Grandma passed away with Jaime and her family at her side. Jaime says she will never forget the care and compassion shown to her and her family by hospice staff who knew that no words would ever be enough and encouraged her to hug them all she needed.
Jaime recalls how just before her Grandma passed away, they had a conversation about fundraising for the hospice and her Grandma made her promise to do everything she could for them after she had gone. Jaime says “I gave her my word that I would fundraise for them and that’s exactly what I’ve been doing since!”
Sadly, a little over a year later on Father’s Day 2018, Jaime’s Grandad too passed away from a suspected Heart Attack.
Determined to honour her promise to her Grandma, Jaime started out by donating her commission raised for the sale of Body Shop to the hospice. In March 2019 Jaime went on to organise a ‘Sip and Shop’ event at Oswaldtwistle Conservative Club where she raffled off prizes to local people and sold scratch cards raising an incredible £800! Jaime has also participated in the hospice’s Starlight Memories Walk for the past 6 years which she started when a friend asked her to join her having too lost a relative who was cared for by the hospice.
In October 2020 undeterred by lockdown, Jaime ran 100 miles in a month. Jaime describes how she felt her Grandma was with her all the way, but in particular for the last 3 miles. “My Grandma loved the snow and as I set off for the last stretch of my challenge it started to snow and I just knew she was with me and that I had to complete what I had started!”
Fast forward 12 months and Jaime is currently training 3 to 4 times a week for the Liverpool Rock and Roll ½ marathon which is taking place on 24th October 2021.
Jaime’s partner and some of her friends will be traveling to Liverpool on the day of the ½ marathon to support and cheer her on which she says will give the encouragement she needs to complete the run.
If you would like to support Jaime in her latest challenge, you can do so by visiting her JustGiving page https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jaime-eaves4