Bradley’s dad, Bob, died in the Hospice in April this year after being diagnosed with stage 4 small cell lung cancer following a persistent cough.
Bob, his fiancée, Emma, and their younger two children had been supported at home by our Clinical Nurse Specialists, who worked to manage Bob’s pain and help with other distressing symptoms caused by the cancer.
‘I want to support St Clare,’ said Bradley, ‘and I just thought, “Go extreme”. I’ve been wanting to do a fundraiser for a year since Dad got ill. And then a month ago my partner’s nan, Frances, came into St Clare.
‘She was a big part of my life, and it was really hard to lose her so soon after Dad. So, when she passed, I thought I’m going to do something now, and skydiving came up, and it went from there.
‘Dad would be amazed I’m doing it because I’ve never been in a plane before, only a helicopter. That trip was a dream of Dad’s, and we flew together with an amazing pilot called Nigel C, towards London over the Tottenham stadium.
‘I’m really excited about skydiving, but I’m quite nervous at the same time. Dad was a very brave man, but I don’t think he would’ve done a skydive, so he’d have been very proud of me.
‘Dad was the rock of the family. He was an amazing person and one in a million. He had a laugh you could hear from streets away. He was very loud and bubbly, always happy, always laughing.
‘When he was admitted to St Clare from the hospital, it was a weight off everyone’s shoulders because it’s such a beautiful place. Seeing him in the hospital and then seeing him at the Hospice was like two different worlds. At St Clare, he was clean, comfortable, and it was great he could have his bed outside because he loved being outside. Having the patio and the sun on him at the end was important.’
– Bradley, Bob’s son
Take on your own personal challenge for St Clare
Has Bradley’s story inspired you? Click here to learn more about taking a challenge for St Clare or contact Sarah Piercy (Challenge Events Relationship Fundraiser) via –
Email – sarah.piercy@stclarehospice.org.uk
Phone – 01279 773750