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Hospiscare Heroes: From Classic Tractors to Unstoppable Love

Our Hospiscare Heroes never cease to amaze us.

Every day, our Hospiscare Heroes dedicate their time, energy, and passion to raising vital funds, ensuring we can continue supporting patients and their families across Exeter, central and east Devon when they need us most.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the extraordinary ways our heroes have shown their support.

Ploughing Devon’s Fields for Charity

Devon is celebrated for its stunning landscapes and deep-rooted agricultural heritage, maintained by the hard work of local farmers. This past September, Kingsdown Farm in Salcombe hosted a truly special event – the Classic Tractor Working Weekend.

Families gathered to admire a fantastic display of agricultural machinery and celebrate the dedication of Devon’s farming community.

Thanks to the generosity of the participants and organisers, the event raised an impressive £1,204.09 for Hospiscare.

A special thank you to Richard Start for organising such a wonderful event. It wouldn’t have been possible without the enthusiastic support of local farmers and everyone involved – and, of course, without the tractors or the fields to plough! Our heartfelt thanks also goes to Gerald and Hilary Knight, and their family for providing the land to hold the event.

Love Marches On

Our next story takes us through Devon’s breath-taking scenery, as brothers Matthew and David Sampson demonstrate the power of love and remembrance. To mark the first anniversary of the passing of their father, Phil, a former Royal Marine, the brothers embarked on an epic journey, walking the full 117 miles of the Two Moors Way.

Their emotional trek from Devon’s South Coast to its North Coast covered challenging terrain, but it also brought moments of beauty, from stunning landscapes to encounters with the local wildlife.

In tribute to their father, the brothers raised an incredible £4,544 for Hospiscare – enough to fund four and a half days of specialist care on the ward at Searle House. From everyone at Hospiscare, we’d like to send a heartfelt thank you to the Sampson family for this incredible achievement.

Nothing Can Stop Love

Our next hero, Amy, shares a story of love and resilience. After losing her father, Steve, to cancer, Amy made a personal commitment to run the Torbay Half Marathon in his memory. “He was my best friend and the most amazing dad I could ever have asked for,” she writes on her JustGiving page.

Steve received compassionate care from our dedicated Hospiscare team, and Amy was determined to honour his memory and give back to the hospice that cared for the whole family in such a difficult time.

 

Despite the cancellation of the half marathon, Amy didn’t give up. She had been training for months, building strength and stamina, and remaining focused on her goal. On what would have been the day of the event, she completed a 13.1-mile route, raising a remarkable £1,415.

Amy’s story touched the hearts of many, and we are deeply grateful for her dedication and courage. Thank you, Amy.

 

Unstoppable David

On 22 September, despite heavy rain, David bravely took on the Dawlish Sprint Triathlon – which included a refreshing sea swim, a challenging bike ride, and an intense run.

What might seem daunting to some was no problem for David, who completed the triathlon with determination and ease. His efforts raised £310 for Hospiscare, and we couldn’t be prouder of his achievement.

Thank you, David, for your unstoppable spirit!

 

Thank You to All Our Hospiscare Heroes

On behalf of our staff and volunteers, patients and their families, we want to express our deepest gratitude to every one of our Hospiscare Heroes. Every incredible story showcases the determination, strength, and compassion of our truly remarkable heroes.

From organising tractor events to running in memory of loved ones, every effort, now matter how big or small, helps us to provide essential care to those who need it most. We love hearing your fundraising stories, so please keep sharing your activities and photos with us on our social media channels.

If you’d like to fundraise for Hospiscare, please visit our fundraising page to find out more.