A DAUGHTER was joined by family and friends for a memory walk to mark the tenth anniversary of her mum's death.
The ten mile walk from Leeds to Otley took place on Easter Sunday and raised more than £2,600 for Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice, where Amber Renaud's mum Adele, spent her final days.
Amber, 22, of Burley-in-Wharfedale, said: “I was trying to think of something to do to get everybody together to mark the anniversary of Mum’s death. I wanted me and my family to be together for a positive reason on that day and to know I’d done everything I could for everybody to be happy. Obviously, it was hard - it’s a challenging time - but I wanted to make it a positive thing.”
She continued: “She loved walking – she didn’t drive – so we used to walk all over. I thought it would be a perfect way to remember her. It just felt right.
“There were 23 people doing the walk in the end. Quite a big group of us, which was really lovely. Many of the people who took part had never actually met my mum, but they knew her through stories I’d told them.”
The walk began in the grounds of Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice in Headingley, and ended in Otley.
Amber said: "We ended the walk at the Social Club where my mum used to work. Some people who couldn’t make the walk itself wanted to find a way to help to raise money, so they organised a raffle at the club afterwards.”
Amber was only 12 when her mum first became ill in November 2013, with cervical cancer and later bowel cancer.
Amber said: “It was all very quick. Mum was ill in November 2013, and from January 2014 it all went downhill. She had been in hospital but here was nothing else they could do. She went into Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice purely for respite care to start with.
“Coming home, it just didn’t work. The house wasn’t adapted for her needs. She went back to the hospice and stayed there. My Grandma stayed with Mum every day – the room she was in had a pull-out bed – so she slept there. She’d go home every now and then, but she basically didn’t leave my Mum’s side. She passed away the day after Mother’s Day.
“I honestly couldn’t fault the staff for all the support they gave. The team went above and beyond to care for Mum, but they also supported and provided everything they possibly could for the rest of my family too.”
Amber was delighted to smash her initial £500 fundraising target and raise more than £2605 for the Headingley based hospice, which provides expert palliative care and support for people who are living with a life-limiting condition, as well as supporting their families.
Amber added: “I wanted to organise this walk to help raise as much money as possible for this amazing cause. It’s the least I could do. It was also to raise awareness of what Sue Ryder does and how they support people. Even if it means that it makes a difference to one person – it’s one more person that’s been helped.”
Clare Humphreys, community fundraiser at Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice, said: “We’d like to extend a huge thank you to Amber for her amazing fundraising walk. The money raised will ensure we can continue to be there for patients and families at the hardest of times.”
For more information on Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice, visit www.sueryder.org/Wheatfields
To find out more about fundraising for Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice, contact wheatfields.fundraising@sueryder.org
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