Family to honour Neil with a Yellow Ribbon Dedication and the Moonlight & Memories Walk
A devoted husband, father and grandad is being honoured by his family this summer, through two very special remembrance opportunities with St Catherine’s Hospice.
Colleen Bradshaw is paying tribute to her beloved husband Neil with a Yellow Ribbon dedication in the hospice’s gardens, while their daughters Paula, Clare and Sarah are remembering their dad – who loved walking – by taking part in the charity’s Moonlight and Memories Walk.
“We’re going to visit the hospice and tie the ribbon in the grounds ourselves,” Colleen said. “It will be emotional, but it will be a nice way to honour Neil’s memory as a family, to write his name on a ribbon and put it with the display in the beautiful gardens of St Catherine’s.”
Neil, who was also a keen sports fan, was cared for at the couple’s home in Much Hoole by the St Catherine’s Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) and Hospice at Home teams.
Colleen admits that as Neil’s illness progressed, she struggled with certain aspects of the care she was able to provide, but was afraid to contact St Catherine’s when it was suggested by their GP as she was worried it would mean Neil spending his final days at the hospice.
“When palliative care was mentioned, it just floored me,” she says. “I thought it meant Neil only had days to live, and as lovely as I know the hospice is, it was important to us all that he remained at home, in his own surroundings and with his family by his side, which is what Neil wanted.
“We didn’t know that St Catherine’s cares for people at home, so when we received a letter we initially ignored it, and it was only when someone from the hospice rang us that we realised they could support us at home, and we could ring up for advice as well if we ever needed it.”
“I can’t emphasise how much Neil didn’t want to rely on other people; he was very independent and a very private person, and if our girls or anyone ever had a problem, he was always the one to fix it,” Colleen explained. “But the hospice nurses were so incredible with him. I don’t know how they did it, but he was always cheerful when they came round and he really appreciated their help. The support they gave us cannot be overstated.
“Getting him ready each morning had been really difficult for us as a couple to be honest. It was a very tough time and tensions were high. But once the Hospice at Home nursing assistants got involved, it made such a difference to our days, it was like a huge weight had been lifted. I can’t thank them enough.
“He had complete faith in his CNS Emma as well. Although you’re in this very serious situation, she just managed to make everyone smile and lifted our spirits when she visited, and she sorted his medication out so that he was more comfortable. I wish now that we’d got in touch with St Catherine’s sooner. It turns out there was nothing to be frightened about.”
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Neil, who worked in stores and worked his way to become a director in the automotive industry – and whose job took him and the family around the UK and even to Holland for a short time – was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2022. He underwent craniotomy surgery followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and responded well to treatment, but his health started to deteriorate in May last year.
Colleen says the hospice staff helped her as well as Neil: “Having their support made me feel better because it took some of the pressure away and just allowed us to be husband and wife. You don’t realise how much you could benefit from that kind of care and support until it happens.”
She added: “Neil loved his family and would do anything to make sure we were all happy. He was outnumbered really with our three girls and six grandchildren, but he loved it!
He enjoyed planning family holidays; we rented a place in Keswick for his 60th birthday and went once or twice a year after that. He loved walking, and he was brilliant at organising trips for everyone, including to America which was amazing.
“We have so many happy memories to cherish, and remembering Neil with a Yellow Ribbon and the Moonlight and Memories Walk seems a fitting way to pay tribute to him and raise funds for St Catherine’s, to thank them for everything they did for us.”
Everyone is welcome to take part in the six or 8-mile sponsored challenge on the evening of 22nd June, both starting and finishing at the hospice’s onsite café, The Mill. People of all ages are encouraged to personalise their event t-shirts in memory of loved ones, and come together as a community to celebrate special lives.
Names of those being remembered with a Yellow Ribbon dedication are written on a ribbon and tied in the grounds of St Catherine’s Park in Lostock Hall throughout June and July, and are included in the Yellow Ribbon Remembrance Book which is available to view at the charity’s family-friendly Yellow Day garden fete on 23rd June.
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