Cousins to pedal up in memory of their gran

Buy photos » Diana Jones cuddles up to her grandson Edward who is cycling from Bristol to London in her memory. (s)

THREE teenage cousins are hoping to pedal up plenty of cash for St Richard's Hospice to say thank you for the care it gave their grandmother.

Edward and Harry Cullinane and William Chilton-Murphy are cycling from Bristol to Westminster at the end of this month in memory of their grandmother Diana Jones who died last October after battling cancer.

Mrs Jones, who lived in Broadway, went into St Richard's Hospice one month before she died to bring her symptoms under control.

Her daughter Rebecca said she received the best possible care from all the staff and so they wanted to give something back to the hospice with their fund-raising challenge.

"She was overwhelmed by the amazing atmosphere, the beautiful bedrooms, each with their own terrace overlooking a lake and the lovely nurses who were there to support and encourage her all the way through her time at the hospice," she said.

"St Richard’s didn't just help her cope they helped us too.

"For our family, the distress of watching, helplessly as our adored mother and grandma's life faded off on to the next stage of her journey was overwhelming.

"However, the staff at St Richard’s made it possible for us to cope, and, although nothing could remove the loss and sadness we were experiencing, they were able to relieve us of the stress and practical ordeal of caring for someone who is so ill.

"She was so very grateful to them for that. At a time when she, and we, felt so out of control of her body and what was happening to it, St Richard’s was a like a pair of strong arms, capable and warm, sweeping us up and carrying us all through the worst of it."

Mrs Jones' three grandchildren plan to set off from Bristol on October 25 and expect to arrive in London three days later.

They hope to raise in excess of £1,000. For more information log onto www.strichards.org.uk.

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