“We are an ordinary family, and it’s not until you find yourselves in uncharted waters that you realise what local charitable organisations are available to provide the help and support when you need it the most.”
Lauren Prentice from Plympton will be running for St Luke’s at Plymouth Britain’s Ocean City Running Festival on Sunday 28 April in memory of her mum, Carol, who died in 2016 aged 65.
A keen horse lover, Carol and her husband Robert moved to Plympton from Edinburgh over 30 years ago with their two children Lauren and her brother Ewan. Lauren describes her mother as “the most caring, kind loving person I know, and she made everyone feel so welcomed and at ease. With such a big heart and warm smile she was loved by everyone who met her.”
She recounts the moment when her life was turned on its head. “My mum was diagnosed with throat cancer in April 2014, and after undergoing surgery in June 2014 unfortunately secondary lung cancer was diagnosed in September 2014, and this is when the family were told that there was nothing else that could be done, and this was the point we were introduced to St Luke’s.”
Lauren’s mum received care both at our specialist unit at Turnchapel and at home from our community team, allowing her to have comfort and dignity as she approached her final days.
“St Luke’s were there not only for my mum, but supported my dad, her husband whilst they embarked on their final journey together. During their time with St Luke’s my parents experienced many of their services including, respite care, where my mum was a resident at the Plymouth hospice, but they allowed my dad to stay too, enabling them to spend as much precious time together as possible.”
“My mum wanted to have her final days at home, and again this was made possible with nurses attending the house several times a day, being sympathetic and caring towards my mum when she was at her must vulnerable. Staying with her overnight, to allow my dad a full night’s sleep and then being the hand to hold when the time came for us all to say our goodbyes.
“However, St Luke’s care didn’t stop there, they offered support to my dad in the days and weeks afterwards. Even now, we feel welcome up at Turnchapel, where you are always greeted with a warm smile, cuppa tea and a chocolate biscuit.”
Lauren will be one of more than 60 runners who will be running for St Luke’s at Plymouth Britain’s Ocean City Running Festival later this month and for Lauren, she wants to repay the kindness and support her family received so that another family may receive the same.
“We are an ordinary family, and it’s not until you find yourselves in uncharted waters that you realise what local charitable organisations are available to provide the help and support when you need it the most. If it wasn’t for the people before me fundraising, the services wouldn’t have been there for us.
“Now it’s my chance to say thank you and hopefully raise some funds to enable these vital services to be there for the next families when the time comes.”
The idea to take on the race came to Lauren as it was something that would push her out of her comfort zone and be the perfect challenge in memory of her mum.
“I am not a natural runner, but my mum always believed that those things worth having, do not come easily. So with that in mind, the application form was completed and the training started. With only just completing the couch to 5k at the end of last year, this was going to be a huge physical task for me.”
For Lauren though, it is her mum’s memory that has pushed her on every training run, spurring her on when it’s become tough.
“My mum has been with me on every training run and I know she will be with me on the day, come rain or shine. She is my inspiration, my reason why, she was and always will be my best friend, my rock, the person who knew me better than I knew myself and for that reason, I am running in memory of her, the bravest lady I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, and it makes me smile, being able to talk of her, and her memory live on with events such as this.”
It costs £11 million to provide our services each year and the majority of that is down to contributions from the local community. By choosing to run for St Luke’s, you will be making a direct impact on the vital funds we need, allowing us to continue to provide compassionate care and support for local families.
Whether you put your best foot forward in Plymouth or at any race across the country or further afield, you’ll be raising much-needed funds to help us reach people living near you when their time is running short. With your support, we can ensure they live well to the end of their lives, making precious memories with those dearest to them.
If you are interested in running for St Luke’s, then please get in touch today. Keep an eye out for more stories coming in our Running Diaries over the coming weeks…
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