Concert inspired by mother’s plea for caring hospice
A woman whose mother was cared for at a hospice was spurred into action to help safeguard its services.
Elaine Kemp organised a mini music festival after her mother, Susan, told her about the Get Behind Heart of Kent Hospice campaign.
The 54-year-old, of Hubbards Lane, had been receiving treatment at Magnolia Place, the hospice outpatient centre, for over a year on Mondays and Thursdays.
She relied on a hospice driver to take her from the family home shared with her husband, Paul, Elaine, and 19-year-old son Louis, to appointments.
Sadly, the charity in Preston Hall, Aylesford, was forced to make redundancies as a result of declines in government funding, and her driver was one of those made redundant.
It launched its Get Behind campaign in December in the hope of raising £600,000 in 2017 to protect vital services.
Miss Kemp, 21, said: “When mum heard about the minibus driver being made redundant she told me the hospice needed funds. I have a number of music contacts, so I decided I would organise a concert.
“Mum really enjoyed going to the hospice, and without the minibus she wouldn’t have been able to get there.”
The Boughton Boogie was held at Boughton Monchelsea Village Hall on April 1.
The trainee secondary school teacher was thrilled to welcome 120 supporters for the eight-act concert, and raised more than £2,000.
Unfortunately her mum, unable to attend, was later admitted to the inpatient ward, and passed away on Tuesday, April 18.
Heart of Kent Hospice is looking for volunteer bus drivers. Call Diane on 01622 792200, and dial extension 274.