This September, Joanne is taking on a huge challenge– trekking to Machu Picchu! She has been training hard for the upcoming challenge, including a 15-mile trek with a walking group.

Joanne decided to support Nottinghamshire Hospice after her mum, Maureen Cross, received Hospice in Your Home support from us in 2022.

“We didn’t want to leave her”

“My mum had a non-cancerous tumour, which she initially covered up to look after my dad. She was so brave and heroic. In December 2021, the tumour got too big and we were told that she wouldn’t have long to live.”

Maureen became bedbound and unable to eat. Around April the following year, a district nurse told the family about Nottinghamshire Hospice, who supported Maureen in her last few weeks with Hospice In Your Home care.

Joanne, who had been taking time off work to care for her mum, said, “We were so tired, but we didn’t want to leave her. When the district nurse told us about the hospice, it was a light at the end of a tunnel. To be able to sleep, knowing someone from the hospice was there and would call if anything happened was comforting.”

The care team were able to contact Joanne and her family when it was almost time for Maureen’s last moments.  This meant that Joanne could be with her mum when she died. Maureen died, age 86.

“The staff were wonderful”

Joanne said, “My mum was known for her infectious laugh. People used to say they wished they could bottle it! She lived locally in Mansfield her whole life, firstly bringing up her children, then looking after her grandchildren, then great grandchildren! She was a hard worker, working in a factory and then a supermarket. She also loved going on holiday and had an allotment where her children would help pull up all the vegetables.”

“The hospice staff were so wonderful and we were grateful that they were there for us.”

We wish Joanne all the best with her Machu Picchu trek and cannot wait to hear how she gets on!

Why not find out more about how you can fundraise for us?