“You matter because you are you, and you matter to the end of your life. We will do all we can not only to help you die peacefully, but also to live until you die.”
Dame Cicely Saunders, palliative care pioneer.

Macmillan services and Hospices enable this.

As a retired community nurse I have experienced this first hand in my working life, the expertise, care, support, compassion, and dedication given to people and their families.

My head shave is dedicated to the following:

In remembering dear friend Bev Alexander who died so very quickly from pancreatic cancer in 2023 far too young. Not able to have the opportunity for any treatment Bev, her husband Gary and sons Jack, Ben plus Charlie their dog experienced the skills and support of the hospice, enabling true holistic care at end of life.

Every day 28 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. But it’s unacceptable that more than half of people diagnosed with the disease die within 3 months. It’s disgraceful that pancreatic cancer is so far behind other cancers. Survival rates have improved enormously for most cancers. But sadly, for pancreatic cancer, this is not the case.

I am passionate about ensuring that no family has to go through what the Alexanders have experienced in the future. Pancreatic Cancer UK has nurses to support people now, when they need it the most, campaigns for change as well as funds groundbreaking research to detect early, treat better and transform care. Your support will help to ensure that everyone with pancreatic cancer survives to live long and well.

Additionally I am also inspired by the bravery of those both young and older facing invasive , painful, possible figure altering and mentally overwhelming treatments for cancer and other long term conditions.
Thank you so much for your support – it means a lot to me , my sister Liz and the Alexander family