SISTERS from Malvern are taking part in St Richard’s Fit for Feb challenge in memory of their parents who were both cared for by the hospice.
Anna and Katie-May Parker signed up to run at least 28km each in a month and have already raised more than £480 for the charity.
The duo want to remember their dad, Nick, and mum, Susan, who died weeks apart.
Anna, 31, said: “We wanted to give something back to the hospice.
“We will never forget what the hospice has done for us.
“If we raise some money, we agreed that it is something positive to come out of something horribly negative.”
Katie-May, 29, added: “A friend told me the hospice is run by angels and we truly believe it is. The care they gave our parents was amazing.”
She added they hoped to provide funds to help the hospice care for other families in the same way it did for them.
Nick, who lived with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, was safely cared for by the hospice’s Community Team face-to-face and over the phone.
The team enabled Mr Parker to stay at home as he wished with his daughters and wife, Susan. He died in November 2020 aged 64.
Weeks later, Susan became ill with pneumonia and was transferred from hospital to the hospice’s In-Patient Unit in Wildwood Drive, Worcester.
Anna and Katie-May could safely visit and spend time with their mum during her stay at the hospice before she died in January 2021 aged 63.
Anna, who is now receiving counselling from the hospice’s Family Support Team, said: “It made the world of difference to us to be with her.
“The hospice was so comfortable.
“It was almost like your living room.
“The hospice was brilliant, the care they gave mum was brilliant.”
The sisters, who live just a few doors apart from each other, hope to raise money for the hospice throughout 2021 – with more challenges on the horizon including the Bristol Half Marathon and 10K.
Anna, also a keen mountain biker, added the pair had struggled to get out of bed since losing their parents and it was hard to get motivated but exercise made them feel better and had brought them closer.
Vist www.justgiving.com/Anna-parker21 for more.
There is still time to sign up for the hospice’s Fit for Feb challenge. For more information visit www.strichards.org.uk/event/fit-for-feb
For more on other hospice fund-raising events and challenges visit www.strichards.org.uk/events or contact [email protected]
