For the twelfth year in a row, a Worcester family is taking on a fundraising challenge in support of the hospice that cared for their much-loved sister and auntie. On Sunday, 18 October, Sabrina and Gary Ingram and their sons Jay (18) and Liam (16) will walk 50km between St Richard’s Hospice charity shops to mark what would have been the 50th birthday of Mel Baker, Gary’s sister.
Mel was cared for at St Richard’s in December 2014 and the following year the family began fundraising to show their gratitude for the care and support received by Mel and the family. They’ve already raised almost £13,000 in her memory.
Sabrina Ingram said: “This will mark our twelfth annual charity event, which began when Jay was seven. He heard a talk at primary school from St Richard’s, where they spoke about the importance of raising funds, and he decided he wanted to do something to make a difference.
“Jay’s first challenge was a two-hour sponsored silence. Since then, other members of the family have joined in with running, swimming and cycling challenges. One year, Liam wore shorts every day for a whole year. There’s been a 24-hour darts challenge and 10 challenges in 10 hours.
“We’re incredibly proud of Jay and Liam for everything they’ve done in memory of their Auntie Mel. She would be as proud of both of them as we are.”
The family will start their walk at the St Richard’s Hospice charity shop in Kidderminster before walking to the charity’s shops in Worcester and Malvern, finishing at the hospice on Wildwood Drive, Worcester.
Sabrina Ingram said: “Mel is missed so much every day, and this is our way of remembering her and thanking St Richard’s Hospice for everything they did to look after Mel and the family in her final weeks.
“This December will mark 12 years since we lost Mel. We think of her every day.”
Abby Holliday, Director of Business and Income Generation at St Richard’s, said: “We’ve loved hearing about the imaginative challenges the Ingram family has completed over the years.
“We’re incredibly lucky to have families like theirs who choose to fundraise for us year after year. As a charity, we rely on community fundraising and we’re so grateful to them for raising such an impressive amount for our care.”
Anyone who would like to support the family can visit www.justgiving.com/page/sabrina-ingram-12.
St Richard’s Hospice is an independent charity offering free, expert care for adults with an illness that cannot be cured, and support for their loved ones and carers.
Each year the hospice team supports more than 3,000 patients, family members and bereaved people in Worcestershire.
It will cost in the region of £12m to run the hospice this year, which includes patient care and all the necessary support services.
St Richard’s relies on voluntary support, including from donations, gifts in Wills, retail and events for the majority of its income with the remainder funded by the NHS.
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Picture caption: Gary, Jay, Liam and Sabrina Ingram prepare to walk 50km to raise funds for St Richard’s Hospice (Credit: Ingram family)
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More information about St Richard’s Hospice
Who does St Richard’s Hospice care for?
St Richard’s cares for people with an illness that cannot be cured, who have complex needs which cannot be met by other services. These include cancer, and neurological, respiratory, cardiac and renal conditions.
All its services are available to people registered with a South Worcestershire GP. The St Richard’s In-patient Unit cares for people across Worcestershire.
St Richard’s cares for people by:
- Supporting people, their loved ones and carers, to manage their illness and remain independent for as long as possible, giving emotional, social, practical and spiritual support
- Providing dedicated, individualised palliative and end of life support helping people to control their pain and other symptoms of concern
- Offering support to enable a person to live well through the course of their illness alongside other therapies that are intended to prolong life
- Supporting our patients, loved ones and carers before and through bereavement
- Working in collaboration with our communities to ensure we are inclusive, respect diversity and provide equitable access to meet the needs of our patients, their loved ones and carers
- Working in partnership with other health care providers and organisations
- Encouraging wider understanding that death and dying is a part of life
- Supporting the local community to be well informed about the care available to them
- Supporting the health and social care workforce through learning and development to provide high-quality, individualised palliative and end of life care
Where St Richard’s cares
St Richard’s offers free care and support for people in the hospice, in the community, in GP surgeries, by telephone or by digital options.
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