Family Raises Thousands for Children’s Hospice in Memory of Late Daughter
Paul Harrison and Kathryn Dainty were devastated when their six-year-old daughter Alex was diagnosed with a stage 4 medulloblastoma, a type of brain tumor, in 2018. Despite undergoing multiple surgeries, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, Alex passed away at the age of 13 on July 4th, 2024.
During Alex’s final days, she was cared for at home by the Francis House homecare team, Macmillan nurses, and community nurses. They provided her with comfort, pain management, and support, even participating in activities to create lasting memories.
“When Alex was taken ill, the nurses came out every day to see her. They managed her symptoms, and it was invaluable because we couldn’t have coped with that,” said Paul. “We also didn’t want her dying in the hospital, so when she did die, we came straight to Francis House and their special facilities.”
Francis House Children’s Hospice in Didsbury provides care and support to families of children and young people with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions. They aim to provide the best quality of life for families throughout their child’s illness and death.
One of the special facilities offered by Francis House is their Rainbow Rooms, which are cooled rooms that allow the young person to remain at the hospice after death until the funeral. These rooms provide families with space and privacy to say their goodbyes.
“I had heard of Francis House and known about it for years, but I never knew the Rainbow Room was there. I never really wanted to think about that sort of facility either. But when we needed it, it was there, and I don’t know what we would’ve done otherwise,” said Paul. “It’s a fantastic facility at the point you need it the most. We were welcomed with open arms, and Kathryn and I were there for almost a month. We were looked after and had a flat to ourselves. They fed us three times a day, and we could have whoever we wanted with us, uncles and aunts, grandparents, they all stayed over. Those three weeks were absolutely crucial and also for our sanity because you don’t want to cope with these things at the best of times. Francis House was the perfect place to turn to.”
Even after Alex’s death, Paul and Kathryn continued to receive support from Francis House through their bereavement services. It was during a return visit that Paul noticed a poster for a fundraising walk in Cheshire.
“The walk was taking place on what would have been Alex’s 14th birthday, June 22. I thought we’ve got to do this; it just seemed perfect. As there was more than one option to walk, some of Alex’s school friends could come along. It was really inclusive, and with more people participating, we could raise more money,” said Paul.
On Sunday, June 22, Paul, Kathryn, and 35 friends and family, along with a group from Heaton Moor Rugby Club, took part in the Francis House Cheshire Three Peaks Challenge. They walked either a 13.6-mile or 6.5-mile route starting from Tegg’s Nose Country Park in Macclesfield.
“The walk was great, we really enjoyed it. Alex wasn’t a huge fan of walking up hills, but she loved cake, and we had a birthday picnic at the end, which she would have loved,” said Paul.
The sponsored walk raised over £6,000 for Francis House, and another £4,000 was raised through Alex’s funeral, bike rides, and half marathons. Paul and Kathryn are incredibly proud of the amount of money raised in Alex’s name and believe that Francis House is a fitting charity to support.
“We would like to thank everyone who joined us on the walk or donated in a fitting way to celebrate Alex’s birthday. We are incredibly proud of the huge amount of money people have raised in Alex’s name. Francis House is a fitting charity as they cared for Alex at home while she was dying, coming to our house to make sure she was comfortable and pain-free. They also helped us as a family after Alex’s death, and we are still accessing their services. We will always be grateful for that,” said Paul.
The Cheshire Three Peaks Challenge is an annual event held every June. To learn more about Francis House and ways to support them, visit https://www.francishouse.org.uk/get-involved/fundraising/.
