I always naively thought that a hospice was a place you went to die, but now I know that a hospice is a place you go to live RAISE A CUP TO DAD ....AND THE HOSPICE
A daughter has announced her latest fundraiser in a bid to coin in £10,000 for St Vincent’s Hospice.
Victoria Hamilton is holding a coffee morning to boost funds for the charity in memory of late father Tom Maitland.
She previously revealed plans to run the Loch Ness Marathon.
Victoria will take a break from training to indulge in some homebaking and has invited families to join her.
She said: “The days and weeks leading up to Dad’s admission were dark.
“His illness had taken grip and spread to his brain. Every day he seemed to deteriorate further.
“We were close to breaking point and simply didn’t know where else to turn.
“From the moment he was admitted to St Vincent’s, we felt rescued.
“I had always naively thought that a hospice was a place you went to die, but now I know that a hospice is a place you go to live.”
A pal offered to stage the coffee morning at Kilbarchan’s Habbies Bar and Grill to help her fundraising drive.
Victoria has amassed almost a third of her target.
She is determined to raise a massive sum to cover the costs of her dad’s care.
Tom passed away at the Howwood centre after battling bowel cancer last year.
He spent nearly a month in the centre after receiving his diagnosis.
And Victoria says she will forever be indebted to those who showed her family kindness.
She added: “The hospice is a place where emotional support is available around the clock for the family, where you need not suffer any pain.
“A patient’s last breath is made as dignified and as comfortable as possible.
“For the 27 days my dad was under their care, I estimate that it would have taken approximately £10,000 of charity funding to provide his care alone.
“It is my mission to repay these costs, as a small gesture for my family’s gratitude for being our salvation when we needed it most.
“This coffee morning has been organised by one of my wonderful friends, Alyson Scott, who wants to do as much as she can to support this fundraising goal.
“She has held these events in the past and they have been incredibly successful.
“When she heard that I am around £3,000 away from my target, she decided to host the event to support this amazing hospice.”
Victoria, of Kilmacolm, is heading to the Highlands to take on the Loch Ness Marathon next month.
She has been training all year for the mammoth challenge in aid of the centre.
The hospice, in Midton Road, is a specialist provider of palliative care.
It helps families affected by life-limiting conditions all across Renfrewshire.
Staff at the inpatient unit support with wellness and symptom control in their day services, as well as home visits.
It costs nearly £ 2.5 million to keep the doors open every year – with the hospice reliant on voluntary donations and fundraising.
The coffee morning takes place on Sunday, September 29, from 1pm until 4pm.
If you can’t make it, but would still like to support Victoria’s efforts, please give what you can at www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/victoria-hamilton7.