Hospiscare
Gill and her late husband, Keith
Gill and her late husband, Keith
A nine-strong family team reunited in Devon to honour a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and friend with a marathon challenge in aid of their local hospice charity, Hospiscare.
Gill Harris, from Budleigh Salterton, teamed up with her children, grandchildren and family dogs to take on the hospice’s ‘Marathon in a Month’ in memory of her husband, Keith.
For the Harris family, the fundraising event was an opportunity for something positive to come from a personal tragedy. By signing up for the challenge, Gill and her family were able to give something back to the hospice nurses and staff who cared for Keith at his home and at the hospice’s specialist ward in Exeter.
Travelling across the country from Leicester, Birmingham and London, Gill’s children and grandchildren reunited at the family home in East Devon. Although Hospiscare’s Marathon in a Month event allowed 31 days to complete the challenge, Gill’s family completed their miles in just one week as a special dedication to Keith.
Gill explains, “We chose that week as it coincided with the anniversary of Keith’s death, as well as his birthday. Thanks to the Hospiscare at Home team, Keith was able to spend his birthday at home, surrounded by his family. He played his guitar and enjoyed his favourite meal.
“We wanted to honour Keith and it just seemed right to do something positive out of something so devastating. As a family, we are still unable to truly comprehend the loss of a man who was the most wonderful husband, father, grandad and friend. Keith was a truly brilliant person, full of love, kindness and wisdom. He was endlessly supportive of his family, friends and the local community. We will always, always miss him.”
Gill made sure Keith was there every step of the way by planning routes in Budleigh Salterton and East Devon that held special memories of walking with her husband, and walking as a family when their children were young.
Gill and her family were part of a community of 105 Marathon in a Month heroes who walked, jogged, ran and - in some cases - rolled 26.2 miles in October to support the work of the local charity. Marathon in a Month was also generously sponsored by local solicitors, Kitsons, who were behind the challenge at every turn.
By going the distance for end-of-life care, Marathon in a Month’s participants raised over £20,000 and together, the Harris team raised £2,700 to support the vital work of Hospiscare.
The pandemic has had a devastating effect on the charity, leaving it facing an income deficit of over £1.5 million. Support from events like Marathon in a Month is crucial to the future of the charity, ensuring it can be there for families like Keith’s.
Gill says, “Everyone at Hospiscare was so caring. The care that Keith had was over and above. Hospiscare supported us so completely – not just during that awful time when Keith was ill, but afterwards too with phone calls from their supportive care service.
“We are just so grateful. What was an absolutely horrific time for our family was made as good as it possibly could. Hospiscare couldn’t have done anything more.”