‘Wonderful’ care sparks Anne’s vow to hospice

MEMORIAL fundraising . . . Bob and Anne Thornton

A Chadderton widow has made it her mission to raise as much money as possible for Dr Kershaw’s hospice as a thank-you for its “wonderful” care.

Anne Thornton explained: “It wasn’t until we actually needed their service ourselves that we realised just what a wonderful place it is.”

Anne’s husband Bob (63) died at the hospice on August 2 after battling bowel cancer. He had been diagnosed in 2011 but had two years in remission before the cancer returned last year.

Anne (59) said: “We wanted to make the most of our time together.”

After Bob’s condition deteriorated, the couple, who would have celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary this month, moved into the Royton hospice where they spent three weeks receiving “first-class” care.

Anne, a mother of three and soon-to-be grandmother of five, added: “Bob and I worked together as ambulance care assistants and we had seen first-hand the care Dr Kershaw’s provides. Everyone there was fantastic, from the doctors and nurses to the volunteers and other staff. They gave us the chance to spend precious time together before Bob passed. I will always be grateful for what they did for us.”

She is now working on a series of fund-raising events in Bob’s memory and hopes that the money raised will go towards creating a new relatives’ room at the hospice.

The first event, a Northern Soul and Motown night with a potato pie supper and a raffle, is at North Chadderton Social and Bowling Club on October 30. Tickets: 07854512698.