BLOG: Ella’s Midnight miles for Grandma Doffy

A little girl has set her sights on fundraising in memory of her Great Grandma, so that other families can have the same support she did during such a difficult time.

Ella Honey Casey, 6, from Leigham, will be walking the three-mile route at our Midnight Walk on Friday in memory of her Great Grandma, Dorothy Honeychurch – or as she knew her – Grandma Doffy, who died earlier this year.

Ella Honey’s mum Emily, said: “After being diagnosed with terminal cancer in March this year, Doffy took the brave decision to be looked after by St Luke’s in April. Doffy was there for two weeks over Easter and the staff couldn’t do enough for myself, Ella and my youngest daughter Daisy. Doffy was treated with so much dignity and respect and we were given so much support and comfort from everyone, from the volunteers and support workers to the nursing staff. It is hard to put into words how kind and compassionate St Luke’s were in our time of need.

“Whilst we were at Turnchapel we talked to the nurses about the Midnight Walk. Ella was so excited that she could help other families to have the same amazing care we had at such a challenging time.”

Ella Honey will be walking alongside her mum and Nana (Clare Honeychurch) on the night, bringing together three generations in memory of a fourth.

The determined six-year-old has been hard at work fundraising and has already surpassed her £100 fundraising goal on JustGiving.

Emily added: “She is very excited and has been asking friends and family who knew and loved Doffy to help with fundraising. In preparation for the walk, she has been doing lots of extra long walks around Wembury and Saltram ready for her big adventure!”

Like Ella Honey, many of our Midnight Walkers are walking in memory of those special people who are no longer with us, while striding forward to secure the future of our hospice services at home, in hospital and in our specialist unit.

Registration closes for our Midnight Walk, sponsored by Michael Spiers and Marchand Petit, on Tuesday at 5pm, so it’s your last chance to sign up. Already signed up? If like Ella Honey, you can raise at least £100 in sponsorship we can achieve collectively our goal of delivering enough for our St Luke’s hospice teams to care for 100 families at home. Wouldn’t that be amazing?

Sign up and set up your JustGiving page here.