Walking for Charlie and the Hospice who cared for him

Many people take part in our fundraising events for a number of different reasons.

Some join us because they enjoy certain elements of the event and others like taking part actively with others. But for many it is because they have been touched by the care the staff at the Charity are able to provide, and want to give back and say thank you for the compassion they and their loved ones have received.

Sue Washington, her daughter Kelly Washington and her grandchildren (all pictured) are one such family. They joined us for Bridge the Gap this year and walked in memory of Charlie Washington, Sue’s husband and Kelly’s dad.

Sue kindly explained her personal reasons for signing up to Bridge the Gap in 2024:

“When we were given the devastating news in the hospital that no more could be done for my husband, Charlie, care at home was discussed with carers coming in four times a day. However, my daughter phoned Arthur Rank Hospice Charity, which we knew nothing about apart from seeing it when using the Babraham Road Park and Ride.

An appointment was made for that evening for us to meet with Flo and have a look round.
From the minute we stepped through the doors we had an enormous feeling of peace, caring and love.
Charlie went into the Inpatient Unit at the Hospice the next morning and spent the last two weeks of his life there, for which my daughters and I will be eternally grateful.

As her Dad was being settled into his room Julie said “Mum, I feel we are surrounded by Angels” and on the day we left after Charlie’s most peaceful passing she said to the staff “You care for so many people with so much love, but you’ve made us feel very special.” That, to me, sums up the Hospice and the amazing staff there (all of them), who looked after him, and us, with such kindness, respect, and tremendous compassion.

On the 6th September it was a year since we lost Charlie. On that day I went to the Hospice, had a cup of tea in the Bistro and sat there, inside and in the garden for two hours and had that feeling of being surrounded by peace and calm.

It would have been Charlie’s 80th birthday on 15th September. My daughter, Kelly, her two children and I felt that to do the Bridge The Gap Charity Walk would be such a fitting way to mark that day, and it was. We very much felt his presence.

The walk was very interesting, the organisation was faultless, a great atmosphere and the weather couldn’t have been better. But best of all, we raised some money, (over £900 between us) in the hope that the Hospice will continue be there for others as it was for us.

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If you would like to find out more about the Charity’s services please visit our webpage: arhc.org.uk/supporting-you/care-services/ where you can view a virtual tour, sign up to a face to face tour or find out how to refer a loved one.