Family going extra miles to help hospice

But she and 12 friends and family will collectively travel 2000 miles today to meet up for a test of endurance to support her mum, Pat.

The members of Team Pat are taking part in the Annandale 30/30 Challenge, a 30-mile walk within 14 hours from Moffat to Hoddom Castle, near the border.

They have already raised £4700 in aid of the Prince And Princess Of Wales Hospice in Glasgow, where Pat has spent three spells as an in-patient since being diagnosed with bowel cancer.

Two team members have travelled from London, five from Glasgow and six from Manchester, to take part in the challenge.

Pat, from Mosspark, who is a mother-of-four and has seven grandchildren, said: "It sounds funny saying the hospice is a lovely place to be in, because you do not want to be here and you don't want to be ill.

"But they are so kind and they do a really good job. They make you feel good.

"I am very proud of my family that they are doing this for me."

Her daughter Amanda, a former British Airways stewardess, decided to organise the fundraising challenge after spotting a leaflet whilst visiting her mother.

Pat was diagnosed with bowel cancer last November. A locum doctor sent her for a colonoscopy after creams she had been prescribed for suspected haemorrhoids had failed to alleviate her discomfort.

Only six months before, her routine test for bowel cancer, which is sent to all over-50s, had been clear.

But a full MRI scan went on to reveal she had cancer in her bowel, liver and lungs.

Pat said: "I kept thinking positive because there is so much they can do now.

"The surgeon said to me, 'I've got bad news.' I was thinking, 'What else can he tell me? I've got cancer, I know I've got cancer.'

"But he sat with a paper and pen and drew a diagram and said there was nothing he could do for me."

She began radiotherapy in November, before doctors put her on a course of trial chemotherapy at the Beatson Cancer centre, the side-effects of which meant she was admitted to the Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice for six weeks.

Daughter Lisa, 36, said: "The chemotherapy did do what it was meant to do and shrunk the tumours considerably, but it caused major side-effects.

"We are still in shock. It has all happened so fast.

"We all thought like my mum – we all knew it was cancer, but thought there would be an operation and they could cut it out."

The family, including husband Frank, 61, had planned a major celebration for Pat's 60th birthday in January by staying at the lodges at Cameron House Hotel, near Loch Lomond, But Pat was too ill to attend and, instead, was again admitted to the hospice.

She has been told she has a life expectancy of two to three years.

Pat, who now sees a counsellor at the hospice every week, added: "I don't think I want any more treatment because there is no point if I am going to be feeling ill.

"Whatever time I have left, I want to live it."

The Evening Times is supporting the £15million Brick By Brick appeal to build a new hospice next to Bellahouston Park.

In addition to the appeal, hospice staff must fundraise £2.8m annually to care for more than 1000 patients and their families.

maureen.ellis@ eveningtimes.co.uk

THE Prince And Princess Of Wales Hospice in Glasgow provides specialist palliative care for people with life-limiting illnesses and support for their families and carers.

Space at its present home in Carlton Place, Gorbals, is limited and there is a pressing need to relocate to a purpose-built facility.

The new hospice, on a proposed site next to Bellahouston Park, will provide 16 single rooms for in-patients, with dedicated access to their own outdoor space.

It will also, for the first time, provide care for young people aged 15 and over.

Out-patient services will be greatly expanded, with a dedicated area for young people and more facilities for patients.

Our Brick Oy Brick campaign needs to raise £15million for this building, but we can't do it without you.

HOW YOU CAN HELP-

To learn more or to make a donation, call 0141 429 9861, see the website www.ppwh.org.uk/brickbybrick or send an e-mail to: brickbybrick@ ppwh.org.uk

Send donations, made payable to The Brick By Brick Appeal, to: The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice, Freepost SCO1724, Glasgow, G5 9BR.

You could organise your own fundraising event – it can be anything from a coffee morning to a glamorous ball.

Whatever you do, tell us about it. We want to hear your stories so tell us why the hospice is so special.

But she and 12 friends and family will collectively travel 2000 miles today to meet up for a test of endurance to support her mum, Pat.

The members of Team Pat are taking part in the Annandale 30/30 Challenge, a 30-mile walk within 14 hours from Moffat to Hoddom Castle, near the border.

They have already raised £4700 in aid of the Prince And Princess Of Wales Hospice in Glasgow, where Pat has spent three spells as an in-patient since being diagnosed with bowel cancer.

Two team members have travelled from London, five from Glasgow and six from Manchester, to take part in the challenge.

Pat, from Mosspark, who is a mother-of-four and has seven grandchildren, said: "It sounds funny saying the hospice is a lovely place to be in, because you do not want to be here and you don't want to be ill.

"But they are so kind and they do a really good job. They make you feel good.

"I am very proud of my family that they are doing this for me."

Her daughter Amanda, a former British Airways stewardess, decided to organise the fundraising challenge after spotting a leaflet whilst visiting her mother.

Pat was diagnosed with bowel cancer last November. A locum doctor sent her for a colonoscopy after creams she had been prescribed for suspected haemorrhoids had failed to alleviate her discomfort.

Only six months before, her routine test for bowel cancer, which is sent to all over-50s, had been clear.

But a full MRI scan went on to reveal she had cancer in her bowel, liver and lungs.

Pat said: "I kept thinking positive because there is so much they can do now.

"The surgeon said to me, 'I've got bad news.' I was thinking, 'What else can he tell me? I've got cancer, I know I've got cancer.'

"But he sat with a paper and pen and drew a diagram and said there was nothing he could do for me."

She began radiotherapy in November, before doctors put her on a course of trial chemotherapy at the Beatson Cancer centre, the side-effects of which meant she was admitted to the Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice for six weeks.

Daughter Lisa, 36, said: "The chemotherapy did do what it was meant to do and shrunk the tumours considerably, but it caused major side-effects.

"We are still in shock. It has all happened so fast.

"We all thought like my mum – we all knew it was cancer, but thought there would be an operation and they could cut it out."

The family, including husband Frank, 61, had planned a major celebration for Pat's 60th birthday in January by staying at the lodges at Cameron House Hotel, near Loch Lomond, But Pat was too ill to attend and, instead, was again admitted to the hospice.

She has been told she has a life expectancy of two to three years.

Pat, who now sees a counsellor at the hospice every week, added: "I don't think I want any more treatment because there is no point if I am going to be feeling ill.

"Whatever time I have left, I want to live it."

The Evening Times is supporting the £15million Brick By Brick appeal to build a new hospice next to Bellahouston Park.

In addition to the appeal, hospice staff must fundraise £2.8m annually to care for more than 1000 patients and their families.

maureen.ellis@ eveningtimes.co.uk

BRICK BY BRICK APPEAL

THE Prince And Princess Of Wales Hospice in Glasgow provides specialist palliative care for people with life-limiting illnesses and support for their families and carers.

Space at its present home in Carlton Place, Gorbals, is limited and there is a pressing need to relocate to a purpose-built facility.

The new hospice, on a proposed site next to Bellahouston Park, will provide 16 single rooms for in-patients, with dedicated access to their own outdoor space.

It will also, for the first time, provide care for young people aged 15 and over.

Out-patient services will be greatly expanded, with a dedicated area for young people and more facilities for patients.

Our Brick Oy Brick campaign needs to raise £15million for this building, but we can't do it without you.

HOW YOU CAN HELP-

To learn more or to make a donation, call 0141 429 9861, see the website www.ppwh.org.uk/brickbybrick or send an e-mail to: brickbybrick@ ppwh.org.uk

Send donations, made payable to The Brick By Brick Appeal, to: The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice, Freepost SCO1724, Glasgow, G5 9BR.

You could organise your own fundraising event – it can be anything from a coffee morning to a glamorous ball.

Whatever you do, tell us about it. We want to hear your stories so tell us why the hospice is so special.