Sisters remember mum at launch of hospice appeal for Mother's Day

Sarah Plant, 41, and Mel Plant, 38, are asking people to join them in helping to raise vital funds to support the Sue Ryder centre.

The hospice is launching a Mother’s Day appeal throughout February, running until Mother’s Day, to continue the care for people living with life-limiting conditions, through a range of services, so they can have choice and control over how and where they receive their care.

Sarah and Mel’s mum Veronica died just over a year ago after suffering from gall bladder cancer, which was diagnosed in 2014, leaving the family in complete shock.

They said: “Mum’s decline was rapid, and when the dreaded word ‘hospice’ was mentioned, we tried to deny what was to come. We were unsure what to expect on my first visit to see mum but as I pulled up into the grounds the beautiful gardens surrounding the hospice, the friendly smile as you walk to reception and the attention received from the staff who could not do enough for mum, immediately put me at ease. It felt like mum was in the right place.”

Sarah and Mel stayed at the hospice to spend the last few days with their mum. They said: “The last week spent at St John’s will always stay with us, and I manage to look back now and smile at the time that we spent there.”

Mel said: “It’s very difficult to see the messages and posts about people celebrating their mum and families out together enjoying the day. Something I wish we could still do. I have my own daughter but losing our mum has been the hardest thing in our lives.

“Nowadays we tend to spend the day together reflecting and remembering all the good memories I have of our mum and turn the day into a positive. I would give anything for just one more day with my mum.”

Sarah added: “Mother’s Day is a mixture of emotions; it feels longer than a day because you have the lead up to it, the adverts, the cards and banners all shouting about Mother’s Day. On the day I just miss mum so much, the whole day reminds me of how great a mother she was and how much she really did love us. Mum was our only family member left as our dad passed away when we were younger. We want to say appreciate your family, love them and remember to be kind to each other you never know when they can be taken from you.”

You can donate at www.sueryder.o rg/stjohns/mother, send a cheque to Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice, St John’s Road, Moggerhanger, Bedford, MK44 3RJ or call the fundraising team on 01767 642412.