Andrew Goldie will be taking on the Grand East Anglia Run (GEAR) 10k run in Kings Lynn this May in aid of St Elizabeth Hospice.
He is completing the challenge in memory of his Dad, Albert (pictured centre), who received end-of-life support from St Elizabeth Hospice, at his home in Hopton-on-Sea, after having being diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in September 2018, before he passed away aged 82-years-old on 3rd October 2021.
Andrew, who lives in Kings Lynn, said: “I’d like to give a little something back to the hospice as the care they gave my Dad and my family was invaluable. Their advice and support meant Dad’s wish to remain at home until his death was made possible and that meant the world to us as a family, during such a difficult time.
“The 10k is on 1st May and training is going well so far and although my main motivation for taking part is for Dad and the hospice, the run is also important to me from a health perspective. I have been a taxi driver for the last 16 years, which is a very sedentary job and one that makes it hard to stay fit.
“However, since deciding I wanted to do this for Dad and the hospice, I have trained hard, going to the gym three times a week and have so far lost 27lbs, so I am really determined to keep this up and make sure I complete the challenge in Dad’s memory.
“None of us know what is round the corner or when we may need the care and compassion from organisations such as St Elizabeth Hospice, but when we do, their support is worth its weight in gold, so please do help me raise funds for this important charity and their vital work.”
Since launching in April 2019, the healthcare partnership between St Elizabeth Hospice and East Coast Community Healthcare (ECCH) has delivered vital care to more than 2,700 people and their families throughout the communities of Great Yarmouth and Waveney.
This care has been provided via the service’s 24-hour advice line OneCall, at Beccles Hospital, in the community through hospice clinical nurse specialists working across Great Yarmouth and Waveney or received support through the hospice’s emotional, wellbeing and bereavement support service, LivingGrief.
Joanne Rodger, events and challenges manager at St Elizabeth Hospice, added: “Good luck to Andrew from the whole hospice team ahead of his 10k challenge. We have full confidence he will be successful in achieving his goal.
“As an independent charity, the generosity and support of people in the local community, like Andrew, makes a big difference to our services and helps our team continue to evolve our care to support patients and their families, for today and for many years to come.”
To donate towards Andrew’s fundraising challenge visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/andrewgoldie2727
Further information about the partnership’s services in Great Yarmouth and Waveney can found by visiting www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/how-we-can-help/hospice-care/great-yarmouth_and-waveney
Read Andrew and Albert’s full hospice story here.