Category: Stories
Puddleducks Day Care in Lincoln is taking part in Rudy’s Run 2021 in memory of Sam Gibbins
My name is Caroline and I am an OFSTED registered childminder, working alongside my husband, Simon, at Puddleducks Day Care in Lincoln. We are honoured to be asked to take part in the Rudy’s Run again this year.
Last year we took part in Rudy’s Run after one of our children’s parents at the day care was suddenly diagnosed with cancer. Everyone will agree that the pandemic was a very challenging year, however cancer made it even tougher.
Sadly, Sam passed away in July of this year. Sam was an amazing, strong lady, and her passing was devastating for everyone at Puddleducks. Sam never wanted self-pity and her motto was to live every day like it’s your last. After speaking to Sam’s husband and children, we have decided to take on Rudy’s Run once again this year in memory of Sam. We are hoping to raise lots of money for St Barnabas Hospice along the way.
Sam always spoke so highly of St Barnabas, who helped her so much throughout her illness. Before Sam gained her angel wings, she sent this amazing message about St Barnabas to me:
“St Barnabas helped me to fill out forms etc. to get extra support, whilst also helping to approach the whole situation with my children. They were really quick with it and got it all sorted straight away. They are so helpful, and there’s always someone there to speak to or ask advice. I have had so much support, which I appreciate so much. I think what you’re doing is fantastic. I am overwhelmed with Puddleducks raising lots of money for St Barnabas and I will be there to wave and cheer you all on.”
Here’s a little insight into last year’s challenge, and I hope lots of people join us in taking part in Rudy’s Run to raise money for such an amazing charity.
Last year we were open throughout the pandemic and went above and beyond to offer our parents the flexibility and care that they all required. We found that Christmas was going to be a challenge and felt the children in our setting still needed a magical experience.
With Sam being diagnosed with terminal cancer, we wanted to do a little something to show her that we were here for her and would support her along the way. At the time, St Barnabas had already been amazing to the family, so we decided we would take on St Barnabas Rudy’s Run.
So, in December 2020 we set about organising a memberable experience. Rudy Reindeer came for a social distanced visit to Puddleducks, which the children loved, before we set upon our challenge. For two weeks we did various runs, walks, dances and prancing, but most importantly we had fun.
We also ran various competitions like colouring, word searches and quizzes. Every child had the opportunity to make reindeer food, reindeer biscuits and reindeer treats. St Barnabas provided each duckling with a red nose and antlers, whilst my husband made Rudy run medals for all of the children.
The challenges were then set, and everyone was so excited about the adventure ahead of us. Every under 5-year-old did a mile, with some doing even longer. The older ducklings even ran 5km after school!
Over the two weeks we would set off in the mornings to our local park to follow a course. We had lots of cheers and donations along the way, which really made the children beam with delight. Alongside this we had set up a JustGiving page where we managed to raise £2,095. This absolutely blew us all away! The children loved checking the growing amount every morning and reading the lovely messages of support that we received.
We had a Christmas dinner with crackers and all the trimmings, and a visit from Santa. We also played party games and sang Christmas songs. Every duckling thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and talked about Rudy’s Run for ages.
To finish I would like to share a statement from Sam’s amazing daughter Jess:
“Earlier on this year, heaven gained a beautiful angel – my mum and Oscars grandma – Samantha Gibbins. Throughout her fight, she was surrounded by the most amazing people who supported and fought with her. Puddleducks accepted Oscar as one of their little ducklings, as they did previously with Mum’s youngest daughter, Abi. Puddleducks have shown such compassion and support, by raising money and completing charity events for St Barnabas. Rudy’s Run was the first event last Christmas, which was a sponsored run with all the children. The money raised was overwhelming and made my mum extremely proud. It helped her to remain positive and strong throughout her cancer journey. As a family we are eternally proud and grateful of the work Puddleducks have done and continue to do.”
“St Barnabas Hospice is like the hug you need after receiving your prognosis.”
Michelle Edwards is just 43 and was diagnosed with terminal metastatic breast cancer in her spine during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. Incredibly, it was her beloved dog, Bobby Peanut, who sniffed the cancer out and prompted her to see a doctor.
Michelle said, “Bobby Peanut is my absolute world. He gives me cuddles, his licks away my tears and he actually found the initial cancer in my breast. Although the cancer is terminal, I am so grateful for his intuition which led to me receiving a diagnosis and finding the angels at St Barnabas Hospice.
“The moment the doctor said that I only had one to five years left to live was completely head spinning. My mind went blank and the whole world stopped for a millisecond. Then everything seemed to speed up again, but I was still miles behind. I still don’t think I have fully come to terms with it all.
“I was referred to the Hospice by one of the nurses at hospital and initially had mobility support from their occupational therapists, which was a huge help. Since then, I have been supported by the Welfare team with accessing benefits, as well as receiving counselling, relaxation sessions and tai chi from the Wellbeing and Community Services teams. You don’t think you need counselling, but I found that I was able to say things to my counsellor that I could never say to my parents. Even just talking to the nurses brightens up bad days and makes me feel stronger.
“What meant the most to me was that the nurses kept coming out to see me even though we were in the middle of the pandemic. That physical presence has been priceless. They have shown me that a terminal diagnosis doesn’t mean your life needs to end there and then. I am actually hoping to zip wire over the coal mines in Wales next year to raise money for the Hospice!
“When I saw that the charity partner for the Lincoln Imp Trail was St Barnabas Hospice, I was over the moon! I have even bought a miniature imp which I plan to paint in a dragon design. The full-size statues are incredible, and I particularly love the RAF imp in his blue uniform. All the artists are so talented, and I can’t wait to see the statues in real life.
“I’ve got my scooter all charged up and my friend is visiting from London in a couple of weeks. It will be great to show her the sights of Lincoln as well as all the imps. You don’t realise how important fundraising is to charities like St Barnabas until you’re in a position like mine. Accessing their services really does mean everything.
“The people at St Barnabas are not just there for when you die, they also help you to make the most of your life right up until that moment. They are there for the difficult days and for the better days. The Hospice is like the hug you need after receiving your prognosis. I am not alone and nor is my family.
“Without people raising money for the Hospice through things like the Imp Trail, people like me just wouldn’t have access to such incredible support and care. If I can give back half of what St Barnabas has done for me then I’ll always do what I can.”
“I can look after the wildflowers and talk to Dad at the same time when I just feel like I need him.”
Geoffrey Gowland was just 55 when he died, leaving behind his wife and children, Emma and Ashley. Emma has chosen to dedicate wildflowers in his memory to help her feel close to him, especially on tough days. She has done this through the St Barnabas Hospice Wildflower Memories Appeal. 
Emma said, “Dad had a really cheeky personality; he used to laugh and laugh at proper ‘dad jokes’ and was just a big child. He spent a lot of his life as a fireman helping others, and that was always his nature. He was the biggest family man and we were his life. As long as we were protected and safe, he was happy.
“He was diagnosed with cancer on 16th March 2016 and died just a couple of weeks later. Our heads were in a spin; we had barely managed to come to terms with his diagnosis before he was gone. My grandparents lost their son – Dad’s brother – when he was very young, so to find out they were losing another son just completely broke them.
“I felt like a lost little girl. I was 28 at the time but it was as though I had reverted back to being a child, just trying to tell myself that it was all a bad dream.
“Our saving grace during this horrible period of our lives was St Barnabas Hospice. The dignity and care they showed my dad was like nothing I had ever imagined. From the moment the family walked in, we felt they were caring not only for dad, but for us too.
“My brother and I struggled to process our feelings alongside making sure Mum was ok, but the nurses took over and gave us stability when everything was falling apart. Dad’s only wish was to be with Mum until the end, and St Barnabas allowed her to be there every second of every day. I don’t think people realise just how special the team at St Barnabas are.
“One memory which really stands out to me was the Lincoln 10k that year. For a few years, Dad had taken part in the 10k, so this time his friends decided to take it on to show their support for him. When the nurses found out, they came outside with me, held my hand and cheered Dad’s friends on as they ran past the Hospice. I felt so supported and cared for in that moment. 
“Growing wildflowers in Dad’s memory is so special to me. I recently bought my first house, which is the first big milestone in my life that he hasn’t been there for. The wildflowers are something I can plant in my garden so that a part of him is here with me. I can look after the wildflowers and talk to Dad at the same time when I just feel like I need him.
“It’s so easy to order your wildflowers – you can do it all online. Just visit www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/wildflower and fill in a dedication form for your loved one with the amount you would like to donate. When you have finished, your dedication will appear on the screen and you can even share it on social media for friends and family to read!
“The lovely people at the Hospice will then post out your wildflower seeds, which are engrained into a beautiful painting done by Hannah Dale at Wrendale Designs. It comes with instructions on how to plant and care for the seeds, so could not be simpler.
“The seeds will carry on re-seeding themselves for years to come, so Dad can be there in my garden always.”
Wright Vigar takes on mammoth walking challenge to support St Barnabas
Wright Vigar, an accountancy company based in the East Midlands and London, decided to put their own spin on the Don’t Quit, Get Fit challenge, tasking their teams to walk the equivalent distance from their Lincoln to London office (a total of 130 miles)!
A St Barnabas nurse walks an average of 12,000 steps in one shift, meaning it would take them just over 21 days to walk a similar distance.
On average in the UK, we sit for 8.9 hours a day. For office workers, the majority of these hours are sat at a desk, which can create health risks. Understanding these risks, Wright Vigar have decided to give their teams a reason to get out and be active, knowing they are supporting such a worthwhile cause.
Tom Maxwell from Wright Vigar said, “If you have the chance, get involved with other people as it really helps to keep you motivated along the way. And remember, it doesn’t always have to be a race. Go at your own pace but be consistent and you will get there.
“St Barnabas make it really easy for you to get involved and are always on hand to answer any questions you might have about your fundraising efforts. They guide you through the process of getting your fundraiser set up and are always checking in to see how things are going.
“The team have always supported St Barnabas, previously taking on the Accumulator Challenge, as they really appreciate the work they do, understand how important it is and the amount of people it benefits. Our aim was to raise £500 with this challenge, but have actually raised £670 which will be match funded.
“Many of us have been working at home for a large proportion of the pandemic and doing some exercise provides a refreshing change of scenery to help clear your mind and gets your blood flowing. There’s nothing quite like fresh air and some exercise to get your creative juices flowing and boost energy levels.”
Click here to take part in the Don’t Quit, Get Fit challenge.
Lincolnshire Training Hub takes on Don’t Quit, Get Fit challenge for St Barnabas Hospice
Every day throughout April, members of the Lincolnshire Training Hub team (including GPs, nurses, management staff, medical students and nursing students) donned their walking shoes to clock up as many miles as they could across Lincolnshire!
Together, they smashed their target distance of 1500 miles. That’s more than double the distance from Land’s End to John O’Groats! They have raised an incredible £750 for the Hospice.
Ruth Pollock, Project Manager at the Training Hub said, “As a primary care team, we are very aware of the health and wellbeing benefits of exercise. Getting outside and exercising is a great way to boost resilience and lose lockdown pounds! We found that having a target distance to aim for really spurs us on, as does undertaking the challenge as part of a team.
“The support provided by St Barnabas has been fantastic every step of the way. As well as written guidelines on how to set up a JustGiving page, fundraising tips and printable exercise logs, we have received regular phone calls to support and encourage us throughout the challenge.
“This is our first fundraising challenge in aid of St Barnabas. We have undertaken this challenge as we are aware that St Barnabas Hospice is currently losing £1,370 in fundraising and shop income every day due to Covid-19. We are hoping to raise as much money as we can to help them continue their vital work with terminally ill patients across Lincolnshire.
“Many of our team are front-line NHS clinicians and the pandemic has brought with it unprecedented challenges. Exercising outdoors is proven to lower blood pressure and stress levels and improve both physical and mental health.”
Click here to sign up for the Don’t Quit, Get Fit challenge.
Wing walking in memory of an incredible lady
By Steph Armstrong, St Barnabas Hospice supporter
“This year my partner Micheal (37) is helping to raise money for St Barnabas. He is signed up to do the wing walk event on 8th August at Wickenby Airfield in Lincolnshire. We have supported the Hospice for a few years now, by taking part in some of the events to raise money. In 2019 we did the 5k Colour Dash which we really enjoyed doing together as a couple.
“We support the Hospice by taking part in events because St Barnabas supported my mum during her short illness. Her illness came so unexpectedly and it rocked the whole family. It was a devastating time and a sad situation to see our mum go through. She was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour in September 2010 and sadly passed away peacefully within the care of St Barnabas Hospice on 26th February 2011, after receiving the vital care she needed towards the end of her life.
“She was a hardworking, caring mother of seven children, she always put herself last even when she was ill. She just cared about all of us children at the time and how things would affect us when she was gone. She loved driving in her car before she became ill, loved a magazine and good book. She was the manager in Cooplands bakery in Lincoln town centre. She was a lifetime partner to my dad Mark; they were together from teenagers up until the age of 39 when she sadly passed away. It left a big hole in all of our lives.
“Micheal is also raising money in memory of his friend’s mum who passed away in 2018 and was also cared for by the Hospice.
“Micheal has never done anything like this before. He is feeling good about doing the event, and looking forward to the whole experience. I am proud of him for helping the Hospice that supported my mum. I think for anyone considering doing the event I would just say the donations raised are going to such a great cause, supporting the care the Hospice is able to provide to patients and their families. For anyone considering the event, give it a go! It will be an unforgettable experience and we are looking forward to the event on the day.”
Click here to make a donation and support Micheal’s wing walking.
Click here to sign up and take part alongside him.
Tony Lake and Lindsay Nearn are taking part in Don’t Quit, Get Fit in memory of Tony’s grandma
Tony Lake and Lindsay Nearn have taken part in ‘Don’t Quit, Get Fit’ to raise money for St Barnabas Hospice in memory of Tony’s grandma. Their challenge was to run 100km each in January, as well as completing an additional 17.5km run from LJM Homecare to St Barnabas.
In total, the pair have raised more than £600 for the Hospice.
Tony said, “We decided that we wanted to push ourselves to feel healthier and raise money for a charity which we have worked closely with over the last few years. Both of us have battled with our weight in the past and have lost considerable amounts of weight. It’s the greatest feeling that we can now both do this!
“We have had regular contact with Paisley from St Barnabas who has been very keen to see where we are up to with our fundraiser and if there is anything else she can do to help. The positive support received is just brilliant and inspires us to push harder.
“I have worked closely with St Barnabas since 2012 and on a personal level, St Barnabas helped my grandma to get out of hospital and back home for her final days. It would be hard to find a single person in the area who hasn’t known someone that has been helped by St Barnabas.
“We are inspired to exercise by the fantastic feeling of accomplishment, mental health aid and generally feeling so much healthier in every aspect of life. As said by Kano Jigoro: “It is not important to be better than someone else, but to be better than yesterday.”
Tony and Lindsay are already planning their next challenge, which will be completing the Three Peaks (Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon) within 24 hours.
Don’t Quit, Get Fit is completely free to sign up to. Those who create a fundraising page on JustGiving as part of their challenge will also receive a free St Barnabas water bottle.
Make a positive change in your life today, just like Tony and Lindsay, and sign up at www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/dontquit
Jason Baker is taking part in Don’t Quit, Get Fit in memory of his mum
Jason Baker is planning to take on a marathon run this year for his ‘Don’t Quit, Get Fit’ challenge in support of St Barnabas. He fundraises for the Hospice in memory of his mum, Heather Baker.
Jason said, “Mum was diagnosed with metastatic cancer and chronic obstructive lung disease before spending her final weeks at the St Barnabas Hospice in the Hospital in Grantham. 
“My two brothers and I all took it in turns to stay with Mum overnight at the Hospice and the staff there could not do enough to help us. We often had takeaways and they made sure we had everything we needed.
“Mum was so proud of her Scottish heritage and we used to go up to Scotland every year for our holidays. She enjoyed a “wee dram of whisky” and always had “one for the road” even in her last days at the Hospice. The nurses told us mum would be gone soon and they helped us to play her favourite Scottish music and allowed us to give her a few drops of her favourite whisky.
“She passed away with dignity and in a peaceful environment.”
Already, Jason has been doing lots of running to raise money for St Barnabas. His reservoir challenge in 2020 saw him complete 14.8 miles of running around Draycote Reservoir, Ravensthorpe and Pitsford Reservoir.
Jason said, “I was having a think about my mum and thought how proud she would have been to see me running. That’s when the lightbulb moment happened… why don’t I run all three reservoirs together?
“My wife, Rachael inspired me to run. She had been running around two years before I decided to give it a go and I really admired her physical and mental strength. I was struggling with my mental health and looking back I think this was a delayed reaction to the passing of my mum. 
“My top tip for new runners is to set a goal to keep the motivation. Keep remembering that positive buzz you get after completing a run and don’t give in as it will get easier.
“When I first spoke to St Barnabas about my fundraising, their support was amazing. I had regular phone conversations with updates on the training and the fundraising pack, running shirt, neck scarf and gels were brilliant. I also joined their private Facebook group for other fundraising supporters like myself and the support and encouragement I got from this group was incredible.”
Don’t Quit, Get Fit is completely free to sign up to. Those who create a fundraising page on JustGiving as part of their challenge will also receive a free St Barnabas water bottle.
Make a positive change in your life today, just like Jason, and sign up at www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/dontquit
Robin Mapleston is taking part in Don’t Quit, Get Fit with his son, Jack!
This year, Robin Mapleston and his son will be completing the challenge of climbing the UK’s tallest mountains (Ben Nevis, Scafell and Snowdon) within a week, as part of St Barnabas Hospice’s ‘Don’t Quit, Get Fit’ campaign. This follows on from a swimming challenge that Robin took part in last year where he swam 21 miles (the distance of the English Channel) in 21 days!
Robin said, “I very badly tore all my ankle ligaments in September 2020 and wanted a challenge to keep me active whilst I recovered. Swimming has always been a big part of my fitness routine but to challenge myself to swim further than I had done before over a short period of time was the perfect test. Raising more than £1,000 for St Barnabas (including Gift Aid) was an amazing way to stay focussed! Now I have this under my belt, I feel more confident my ankle will be ok to take on the mountains.”
£1,000 is an incredible amount of money and would fund 28 physiotherapy or occupational therapy sessions to help patients maintain their independence.
Robin added, “I started supporting St Barnabas Hospice after my mum was diagnosed with cancer. My son and I wanted to do something to raise money for a charity close to her heart, and she asked us to choose St Barnabas. Mum had a number of friends who were cared for by the Hospice, so it brings it close to home for us.
“Having the St Barnabas Fundraising team there to support me through my challenges has been invaluable. Whether it is a formal piece of support or simply a “well done,” it means the world when you’re in the middle of a challenge.
“I think that keeping fit and healthy is inspiration in itself. Once you break through the wall that inevitably hits everyone that takes on a challenge, you find a feeling of being alive and happy. Exercise has been so helpful for me during the pandemic. More so for children, where I run Zoom fitness sessions for my under 13’s rugby team to keep them exercising whilst schools and sports groups are closed.”
Don’t Quit, Get Fit is completely free to sign up to. Those who create a fundraising page on JustGiving as part of their challenge will also receive a free St Barnabas water bottle.
Make a positive change in your life today, just like Robin, and sign up at www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/dontquit
Mike Bosnell is taking part in Don’t Quit, Get Fit with his dog, Florrie!
Mike Bosnell took up running during the first lockdown using the ‘couch to 5k’ challenge and then joined St Barnabas Hospice for ‘Gone Running’ along with his partner’s dog, Florrie. He has now taken up the Hospice’s ‘Don’t Quit, Get Fit’ challenge and will be using it as training for the Great North Run in September.
Mike said, “There could be no better cause than St Barnabas and I want to do my bit to repay the kindness and care they gave my mum when she passed away.
“My dad once said to me, “your mum’s the best friend you’ll ever have,” which was so true. Mum was caring, loving and always there for me. We had many laughs over the years and our love was unconditional. When she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, I was simply devastated. It is still so very hard now; even the simplest of things can sometimes bring tears.
“St Barnabas came to her house and cared for her, allowing her to remain at home until she passed away. Their care was unbelievable, and it had the personal touch.
Mike is currently doing two four-mile runs and one six-mile run each week as he trains for the Great North Run. His plan is to slowly build distance in order to reach the thirteen-mile target.
Mike said, “Running gives me a massive fitness boost and has greatly helped with a heart and blood pressure condition which I was diagnosed with. My most recent annual check-up was the best I have ever had, with both my heart rate and blood pressure being normal! After telling my doctor about the running I have taken up, he told me not to stop and explained in more detail how the running was helping me.
“For anyone just starting out with running, my main piece of advice is to get the correct running shoes. I went to Lincolnshire Runner, explained the type of running I was doing, and they did the rest for me! I also think you need to be sensible with distances and always make sure to warm up.
“For my Don’t Quit, Get Fit challenge, I will be maintaining my three-day running programme each week along with Florrie. The support I received from St Barnabas has been second to none. They have helped with everything from running kit to suggested training programmes and are always on the end of the phone if I need anything.”
Don’t Quit, Get Fit runs from January to March 2021 and it is completely free to sign up. Those who create a fundraising page on JustGiving as part of their challenge will also receive a free St Barnabas water bottle.
Make a positive change in your life today, just like Mike, and sign up at www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/dontquit