The Butterwick Hospice “aim to improve the quality of life for those who have a life limiting illness and their families and to help them relate positively to every challenge they may encounter during their illness and to see death as part of life’s journey.”

 

Momentum’s services “help a wide range of people, including those with a brain injury, spinal injury, mental health difficulty, physical or learning disability, in the areas of employment and training, job retention and community rehabilitation. The organisation also provides social care and supported living services to people in their own homes.”

 

For three years my mother, Gill Parry, battled with cancer and received treatment and care from the Butterwick Hospice. Gill had a huge influence in her local community, and helped set up a local football club, Wynyard FC, amongst other events.  In March 2012 Gill finally lost her battle with cancer. As a thank you to the staff, and to raise money for the Butterwick Hospice to care for more patients, we wanted to organise a fundraising event.

 

In May 2012, myself, Danny Wray, and our friend Sean Dolan organised a fundraising football event that took place at the football ground of Northern League football team, Billingham Town FC. Each player donated £10, and further money was raised in the clubhouse after the game from selling raffle tickets and running ‘blind cards’. The day was a huge success and we managed to raise over £2000. All three of us wanted to make this an annual event, and we are delighted to say that we are now in the process of organising our third event, to be held on Sunday 4th May 2014, after last year’s event raised over £3000.

 

Our desire to raise money for the Butterwick hospice has also been increased as in November 2013, Danny's cousin, Gavin Duffy, was tragically killed after he was hit by a car whilst on holiday in Dubai. Gavin was a very keen and talented runner and he had often raised money for the Butterwick Hospice through several running events, most notably when he completed the London Marathon in a very impressive time of 2:47:33.

 

However, this year we are now adding an extra charity, Momentum, to our fund raising cause. In October 2013, Sean Dolan (joint organiser of this charity event) suffered a serious, life threatening head injury whilst playing football. He is now in the process of making a miraculous recovery, and is currently working with Momentum as part of his rehabilitation as he aims to get his career as a teacher back on track.

 

Due to the technicalities of setting up a Just Giving page in memory of more than 1 person, we have set up 2 pages, in memory of Gill Parry and Gavin Duffy, which will both be raising money for the Butterwick Hospice. We will however, be splitting all donations (online and cash) accordingly between both charities, the Butterwick Hospice and Momentum UK.