“I will be forever grateful to Weston Hospicecare” says Strictly Fun Dancing participant

By Jill Dando News

A lady who is taking part in Weston Hospicecare’s Strictly Fun Dancing next month has said the hospice helped her family at a time of need.

Strictly Fun Dancing sees amateur couples train for ten weeks to learn ballroom dancing with professional teachers from Salsa Vida prior to taking part in a Grand Finale.

Penny Gunter’s husband Malcolm was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in May 2017.

Roughly a year later, he died after spending just a few hours at Weston Hospicecare’s In-patient Unit (IPU).

He had care by the now Hospice Community Nursing Manager, Gwen Harding, prior to admission to Weston Hospicecare’s IPU.

Weston Hospicecare is a charity which was close to the heart of Jill Dando while she was alive, with constant fundraising and support in her role as Patron. The Priory Learning Trust has been a big supporter over the years.

Penny says “Gwen was an absolute godsend. She initially cared for Malcolm before Mary, Bereavement Counselling Manager, supported our daughter Lottie and I.

“The end came very suddenly, and Malcolm was only at the hospice for a few hours before he died.

“But this was incredibly important as he was able to receive medical care to help his passing.”

Penny and her daughter Lottie have been supported by the hospice in the years after Malcolm’s death.

She continued “All of this was at no cost to us, which is incredible!

“It’s only possible by the charity that funds the hospice.

“The hospice is the sort of organisation which people are aware of, but don’t really know how important it is until they have personal experience of it.

“It is a hugely vital of the North Somerset community.”

Penny will be dancing with partner Russ on Saturday 4 November to raise money for Weston Hospicecare. You can support Penny, Russ and all the other couples by leaving a donation via https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/whcstrictlyfundancing2023.

It costs £5.5million each year to run the hospice with just 20% of funding coming from the government.

Care given is done so free of charge. This means the hospice relies on its incredible supporters and volunteers to fund the remaining 80%.

Strictly Fun Dancing, which has been kindly sponsored by Gilda Cane & Cushions Ltd, is an evening full to the brim of glitz and glamour and is just one of many fundraising events the hospice holds throughout the year.

Tickets are on sale now and fans of Strictly Come Dancing as well as supporters of the hospice are encouraged to come along and enjoy an evening full to the brim of glitz and glamour, as the amateur couples tackle their nerves to perform in front of friends, family, and the general public at the iconic Winter Gardens.

Find out more about how to get involved to support Weston Hospicecare and or how to get tickets for the Strictly Fun Dancing Grand Finale, visit westonhospicecare.org.uk.

For more stories from Jill Dando News click: http://www.goodnewspost.co.uk