Beth’s Breakwater swim for St Luke’s

19th July 2024

Swimming for St Luke’s

A daughters love of the sea and memories of her father paved the way for an inspiring challenge.

Back in July 2022, Beth Tindall-Jones’ father spent his final week at our specialist unit, receiving care after being diagnosed with stomach cancer.

Now, two years on, Beth and her two friends Ellie and Ellen completed the challenging Breakwater swim last weekend in aid of St Luke’s and in memory of Beth’s father.

In memory of Dad

“Sea swimming was a particular comfort to me in Dad’s last week,” Beth says, “and it was something we often talked about when I visited him. He always encouraged and took great delight in my love of the sea, so it will be a wonderful way to honour him – swimming back to the shore of Mount Batten where he spent his last days.”

Beth and her friends were treated to blue skies as they completed the 3.2km swim from Plymouth breakwater to Mount Batten on Sunday, raising over £1,500 for St Luke’s.

Beth, a PhD student in Marine Biology, has always loved the ocean, growing up with her mum and dad and two brothers in Tavistock, her childhood was filled with coastal walks and trips to the beach, memories with her father that she has always held on to.

“My dad was an incredibly patient and kind man, who had a deep faith in Christianity. He was an incredibly hard worker in both his professions and role as a father. He would do anything for his children, even driving over 8 hours to see me and my brother at university twice a year. Dad was always passionate about my chosen career of marine biology and did everything he could to help me on my way. I have many happy and special memories of my dad, mostly involving long coastal or Dartmoor walks talking about life and faith and admiring the views.”

Beth, Ellie and Ellen regularly swim on their lunch break and decided that they wanted to complete the swim and fundraise for St Luke’s as a way of saying thank you for the care Beth’s dad and her family received.

St Luke’s full circle of care

It was during Beth’s dad’s time at our specialist unit that Beth and her family’s eyes were opened to the full circle of care that St Luke’s provides.

“St Luke’s gave my parents pre-bereavement support, helping them to understand the process of terminal cancer,” Beth describes. “Dad stayed at the hospice during his last week. This week was an incredible blessing to my family. Having a calm and beautiful space where we could all be together and take it in turns to see Dad when he was well enough was invaluable.

“The staff were so caring and made Dad as comfortable as possible, the little details like playing his favourite music and letting him watch his favourite films made such a difference.

“The staff were also very supportive of our family at this time which was so kind of them. It was invaluable to have support through such a difficult and unknown time. It felt so nice to talk to someone who really understood what I was going through.

She recalls: “The hospice provided a peaceful and safe environment for our family to see Dad, as well as space to wait with one another when he needed rest. The kind of care he received there was truly remarkable. The staff were immensely caring, not only to Dad but to my family as well.

“At one particularly challenging moment one of the nurses paused to give me a hug and I cried in her arms in the corridor. It was amazing to receive such empathy in a situation they must be so used to.”

Thank you

The Breakwater swim was organised by the Chestnut Appeal. The trio decided to donate the first £250 that they raised to the Chestnut Appeal with anything else they manage to raise going straight to St Luke’s. They have already well surpassed their fundraising target thanks to the wonderful support of their friends and families.

The money they have raised will enable our teams to provide a whole spectrum of care to patients and their families, giving them the chance to make special memories in the last weeks and days of life, just like Beth and her father.

Sponsor Beth, Ellie and Ellen

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