Hands Across the Sea

A transatlantic journey has led to a donation of £550 for a local Hospice.

Mr Lee Watson, who lives in Virginia in the United States with his wife and 2 children, contacted the John Taylor Hospice in Birmingham, England and offered to undertake a sponsored marathon in the United States to raise much-needed funds for the Hospice in which his mother Val was cared for before she died in 1978, when he was only 10 years old. Lee took part in the US Marine Corps marathon in Washington DC – the first in which he has ever participated.

With his brother Greg and his father John, Lee made a special trip to the Hospice to present his cheque and to see for himself the changes made since his mother was a patient. At the time of his mother’s death, he lived near the Hospice. He was taken on a tour of the Hospice by Katie Burbridge, the Clinical Lead for the Inpatient Unit at the Hospice.

Lee has lived in the United States for 3 years and is a Warrant Officer with British Defence Intelligence, liaising with his US counterparts. His father now lives near Tonbridge Wells in Kent and his brother in Saffron Walden, Essex.

Lee said,
"It has been great to see the Hospice again. It brought back some sad memories, but we will always remember how well the staff looked after my mother – and are still doing the same for hundreds of other families, I cannot thank them enough"

He added
" Doing the run was the easy bit. I have my wife Claire to thank for getting the money in from the sponsors. It has been along trip here but well worth the visit."

The League of Friends of the John Taylor Hospice in Birmingham, England can be contacted via the web site on www.johntaylorhospicelof.org.uk or by ringing Freephone 0800 781 1898

ENDS
The League of Friends contributes over £200,000 pa for the care and comfort of patients at the John Taylor Hospice.

The Hospice is based in Erdington, Birmingham and covers a population of
Over 400,000 people in Sutton Coldfield. central, north and eastern Birmingham together with adjoining areas.

Issued by: Ray Woods on behalf of the League of Friends of John Taylor Hospice
Mobile: 07967 686230

Photo available on request