Granddaughter walks with her dog ‘Willow’ in Memory of her Grandad

When Kirsty Blackwell decided to take on ‘Lead On’ for Arthur Rank Hospice Charity, she knew exactly who she was doing it for- her beloved Grandad, Dave Russell.

Dave spent his final week in the Inpatient Unit at the Hospice in April 2025, following a very sudden and heartbreaking short journey, after discovering he had a brain tumour just six weeks earlier. Kirsty shared:

“It all happened so quickly, as a family we were still trying to take it all in.

We’re a really close family – there are 15 of us in our immediate family alone – and being able to visit Grandad together [at the Hospice] meant the world to us. He always loved a big family gathering, and even though it was such a sad time, there were moments that felt really special.”

Kirsty continued, sharing one of those precious moments:

“We all sat round the long table [in the Inpatient Unit] and shared a roast dinner that a family member had made. It felt so normal and comforting – just what Grandad would have wanted. One of the lovely nurses even offered my Grandma a glass of wine to enjoy, which really summed up the warmth and care we all felt there.”

For Kirsty, seeing the compassion and respect shown to her Grandad and family during that week, left a lasting mark:

“My Grandma never left his side. She was able to stay the whole time and the staff made sure she was cared for too. It was such a comfort knowing Grandad was surrounded by love and dignity right until the end.”

In September 2025, Kirsty walked with her Cavapoo dog, Willow, in the Charity’s ‘Lead On’ challenge in his memory, raising funds so that other families can receive the same kindness, care and support that meant so much to hers.

“Arthur Rank Hospice gave us precious time together as a family, taking on this challenge feels like a way to say thank you to honour Grandad and to help make sure other families get the same chance to make those special memories too.”

You can support Kirsty’s challenge in memory of her Grandad Dave by visiting her fundraising page https://arhc.enthuse.com/pf/kirsty-blackwell

Every donation will help Arthur Rank Hospice Charity to continue to provide expert care and comfort to people and their families in Cambridgeshire, when it matters most.

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For more information about Arthur Rank Hospice Charity Events and Challenges visit arhc.org.uk/eventsandchallenges