“It’s so inclusive and family oriented and everyone’s so lovely.”
Twenty years after her father Stanley died at St Christopher’s, Sharon completed Fun Walk 2025 with her son Fabian and enjoyed it so much she’s pledged to participate again.
As the anniversary of Stanley’s death approached, Sharon, who lives in South London, was looking for a meaningful way to mark the occasion.
“St Christopher’s has always had a very special place in my heart. I wanted to raise money for them, to give back, to mark Dad’s legacy and let him know that’s he’s gone but not forgotten.”
Sharon says she still often thinks about and misses Stanley, a retired sheet metal worker, who spent the last two weeks of his life at St Christopher’s in February 2005, seven months after being diagnosed with lung cancer.
“He was a wonderful father, friend and confidant who was full of life, energy and positivity right up until the end. He supported so many people during his life, but always very quietly. He was a like a silent hero.
“He diminished physically before our eyes. and reached the point where he knew he needed to go to the hospice. Immediately, it just seemed like a safe space. Right from when you walk in, it felt so calm and tranquil and the staff, all of them, were so accommodating.”
Sharon’s mum received bereavement counselling at St Christopher’s and Sharon says it’s the sense of calm and tranquillity that draws her back to the hospice on a regular basis.
“When it’s Dad’s birthday, Father’s Day or Christmas, I’ll go to St Christopher’s, to the chapel, light a candle, write something in the book, and sit looking out of the window. It’s my time of stillness and peace and I feel like Dad is still there.”
“It really energised me and I got a lot of satisfaction out of it. So, Fabian and I are definitely going to do it again. I’m hoping other family members and friends will too so we can add to the near £1700 we raised last year.”
The ‘Nurses as Trailblazers and Pathfinders’ virtual conference was held on Tuesday 9th July. The conference was organised for the Global Palliative Nursing Network (GPNN) by St Christopher’s CARE and the International Children’s Palliative Care Network (ICPCN)
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