A husband and wife who spent lockdown training for a mammoth trek across the Lake District have more than tripled their fundraising target for the Derbyshire end-of-life charity which cared for a much-loved family member.
Paul and Liz Stewart have raised £1,115 for Risley-based Treetops Hospice after completing the Lakeland 50; a gruelling 50-mile trek which starts at Ullswater, on the Dalemain Estate, and ends in Coniston, taking in the stunning scenery – and undulating hills – of Eskdale, Ambleside and Keswick. The route also includes a 10,000ft climb and is considered one of the toughest fell runs in Europe.
The couple, from Risley, wanted to thank Treetops for the care they provided to Paul’s mum, Beverley, before her death in April 2019.
Liz said: “Beverley was an amazing woman and Treetops Hospice at Home nurses helped us to make her final couple of months manageable; they helped us to take care of Beverley at home, so that she could sleep in her own bed, and were there when we needed them the most.
“The final two or three weeks she spent at home meant that she was able to enjoy going out for tea a couple of times with her family and saw her grandchildren all together before she passed away. The Lakeland 50 was our chance to do something for Treetops, to give something back.
“Beverley was incredibly brave. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2013 and coped admirably.
“Her husband, Dave, was her rock and took her to all of her hospital appointments but, all she wanted to do towards the end, was to go home. Treetops helped us to make this possible and the Hospice at Home nurses were incredible.”
Liz and Paul are regular runners – Liz has run a marathon before – but this is the first time that they have taken part in the Lakeland 50. According to event organisers, around 40-50 per cent of competitors fail to finish the course.
“It was certainly a challenge,” said Liz, “and you can’t train for something like the Lakeland 50. Paul and I clocked up quite a few miles running around the Derbyshire countryside during lockdown, but nothing really prepares you for the Lakeland 50.
“It took us around 21 hours to complete the course but smashing our fundraising target makes it all worth it. Our initial target was £350 but we have more than tripled that, which is great news for Treetops Hospice.”
Cheryl Morris, Treetops Community Relationships Manager, said: “We’re very grateful to Paul and Liz for completing such a gruelling challenge for the hospice and raising such a large amount of money.
“With their brilliant fundraising success, we can continue to provide vital end of life care for even more patients and their families in the local community.”
Treetops supports thousands of local people – and their families – through the most difficult time of their lives. Last year, the team of over 40 Hospice at Home nurses provided more than 23,000 hours of care to terminally-ill patients, working day and night to give much-needed support.
