The Herts 10K is Rennie Grove Hospice Care’s flagship fundraising event with thousands of runners coming back time after time. This year, regulars will be joined by brothers John and Neil Pickersgill who are taking part in memory of their father who died in May.
Neil said: “John and I decided to complete the Herts 10K to raise funds for the Rennie Grove team following the passing of our much-loved father, Michael David Pickersgill.
“Dad was a kind and generous man who loved his family and in particular his grandchildren. He was looking forward to spending more time with us all during his retirement.
“Dad learned that he had lymphoma cancer during 2017 and battled bravely to defeat it enduring courses of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
“Despite being given the all-clear his pain continued and further tests showed the cancer hadn’t gone away and was in his nervous system. Initially Dad was in hospital but his wish was to spend his last days at home with his family. He was able to do this thanks to the support of the Rennie Grove nurses who helped make all the arrangements and provided advice on the practicalities and equipment which allowed him to move home for the last four weeks of his life.
“As Dad’s condition worsened the Rennie Grove nurses provided pain relief medication via a syringe driver that made him as comfortable as possible in his last 48 hours.
“Immediately after Dad’s passing John and I knew we wanted to do something to raise funds for Rennie Grove in Dad’s memory. We have set ourselves a target of raising enough to buy two syringe drivers to support other patients in their hours of need.
“Rennie Grove were the best of the health professionals we met during our Dad’s illness and eventual end of life care,” added John. “They were incredibly well-informed, sincere and empathetic yet candid in their prognosis - which is what was needed to ensure our expectations were managed. Most of all, our Dad’s final wishes were granted: he was able to stay at home for his final days only because of Rennie Grove nurses who ensured that he could finally be free from pain and eventually pass peacefully.”
“We feel indebted to Rennie Grove. No-one knows when they will need such a service so we want to help ensure others have access to same level of care if they need it.”
To sponsor John and Neil please visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/pickesrsgillbrothers or go to www.justgiving.com and search for Rennie Grove Hospice Care.
For more information on the Herts 10K please visit www.herts10k.com
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