Tony's story
25 Year Anniversary Stories
This is Tony’s story, in his own words.
Our story starts back in 1986 when Brian, Joyce’s husband and dad to my wife Gillian and her sister Janine lost his battle with lung cancer at the age of 53. Joyce, aged 50 was left a widow and her lifelong partner no longer there. Sometime shortly after that Joyce saw a piece in the Rotherham Advertiser asking if people would be interested in fund raising to get Rotherham it’s own hospice. Joyce knowing this would have been a huge help to her got involved.
Joyce and her dear friend Beth Morris stood in the entrance to Rotherham Hospital with a bric a brac stall for many years along with getting involved with lots of fundraising including car boot sales and raffles. We even held a few barn dances in aid of the Hospice. Joyce continued to be involved as a volunteer within the day hospice helping with general duties and training to hand massages to patients.
In later years Joyce benefitted form the day hospice service following consecutive surgeries to remove a growth in her lung then a heart valve repair and during the 18 months of her life Joyce was looked after by the hospice team a service which became the one thing we could all rely on at such a difficult time.
Joyce passed away in the Hospice in September 2018.
Her birthday, 11th February, came around in 2019 and we were carrying out her final wish of all the family having a short break together when we all decided that we had to carry on her legacy as a family. Lots of ideas were discussed and during 2019 we began our fundraising efforts.
They have included raffles, sponsored walks (national 3 peaks), donations in lieu of gifts on birthdays. We set up a mobile disco (54 beats) and decided to donate all proceeds to the Hospice, my wife Gillian creates flower arrangements and sells them on again donating all income including the cost of materials. Our fundraising totalled just over £11k last year and along came lockdown.
Events we had planned have been postponed but we have still continued with our donations in lieu of birthdays, flower arrangements and I have done some online dj events which have raised some money, not what we wanted but we are still trying to do what we can.
All the family including myself and wife Gillian, Janine and her husband Keith, grandchildren Rebecca, Kathryn, Lewis and Abigail have all been involved and are looking forward to resuming at full speed when allowed to do so.
How can you help?
There are many ways you can support us, whether it be through holding an event, playing in our lottery, volunteering, or donating!
