Teresa Walker walked an astonishing 60 miles in 60 days to raise £5,046 for the Hospice in memory of her mother, Matilda Cassidy.
I wanted to give back after such a special time at the Hospice with mum
During her stay, Matilda ‘Tilly’ Cassidy, 91, built a special bond with her nurses and “had no fear” in her final days. Her daughter, Teresa has precious memories of her mum at the Hospice. Here, Teresa shares their story…
Teresa, a member of the Nordic Walking Saddleworth Group, wanted to raise money for the Hospice after staff went “above and beyond” to ensure her mother had a wonderful last Christmas with loved ones.
Matilda ‘Tilly’ Cassidy passed away peacefully in January 2024, at the age of 91. During her stay in the Inpatient Unit, she built a special bond with nurses and even attended a Christmas carol concert performed by the Brian Clarke Church of England Academy.
To mark her 60th birthday, Teresa decided to fundraise by walking 600 miles in 60 days – the equivalent of walking from England to Germany.
With the help of friends and family, Teresa embarked on a journey that braved the coast of Anglesey and included a guided walking tour through Dublin.
Teresa says: “The service Dr Kershaw’s provides couldn’t be better for the patient or their family. All the staff, including volunteers, were amazing. Every single one went over and above their duty. I am super proud to have raised so much money.”
Even before her stay in the Hospice, Teresa says her mother knew she would be in good hands. She explains: “Mum was very well aware of the wonderful work that hospices do. We both knew what happy, positive places they are so we definitely had no fear.”
All the staff, including volunteers, were amazing. Every single one went over and above their duty. I am super proud to have raised so much money.
Describing her mother’s room and the gardens as “bright” and “beautiful”, Teresa says she was immediately filled with relief at knowing she would be treated with dignity and respect.
She adds: “Even Mum herself was quite excited! She was delighted to be at the Hospice, and she loved each and every member of staff. She told me: “The staff are wonderful and I’m very well looked after!”.”
The comfort Tilly felt in her final days enabled her to spend quality time with her family. Teresa explains: “My time with Mum was so special; there was nothing left unsaid. I can’t begin to imagine how much harder it would have been to cope if we hadn’t had the support of all the amazing staff. There was always someone to talk to, a shoulder to cry on or reassuring words of comfort to be found. This included housekeeping, volunteers, health care assistants, nurses and doctors.”
Teresa now has fond memories of her mother’s time at Dr Kershaw’s Hospice. She adds: “To people who have never experienced the amazing care given by a hospice team, some of the words I use to describe Mum’s stay there might sound strange: happiness, love, laughter, joy. I wanted to raise money for the Hospice to give back and say a massive Thank You.”
To people who have never experienced the amazing care given by a hospice team, some of the words I use to describe Mum’s stay there might sound strange: happiness, love, laughter, joy. I wanted to raise money for the Hospice to give back and say a massive Thank You.