Missy Mop gets into the festive spirit for special St Catherine’s visit

Missy Mop donned her favourite Christmas outfit to visit St Catherine’s this week – a place she used to love coming to with Joan and Anita Tunstall.

Joan’s husband and Anita’s dad, Graham, was cared for at the hospice a year ago, and their pet pooch Missy Mop still gets excited when the family pay a visit to St Catherine’s.

Joan and Anita made a donation in Graham’s memory on Monday this week – the date of Joan and Graham’s 50^th wedding anniversary.

It brings the total amount of money raised by the family for St Catherine’s to an incredible £2,500, after Anita completed the Great North Run, donations were made in lieu of flowers from Graham’s funeral, and donations were made in his memory on his birthday and for the charity’s annual Light up a Life campaign in November.

Joan, from Chorley, said: “St Catherine’s is a very special place for us. It feels nice to come back here – we walk round the grounds and leave flowers at the chapel. We can feel that closeness.

“Missy Mop loves coming here too – she always wags her tail when we arrive because she remembers coming here to see Graham.”

Graham was able to spend his final days at home after being cared for at the hospice, and with support from the charity’s Clinical Nurse Specialists team (CNS) who care for people in the community.

Lorraine Charlesworth, director of community and income at St Catherine’s, thanked the Tunstalls for the support of the charity, and added: “I’m pleased that Joan and Anita feel welcome to visit the hospice whenever they wish, as a place of remembrance and reflection, and to pay tribute to Graham at special times of year.

“Their efforts in raising a fantastic amount of money for the charity are highly commendable, and will help us continue caring for people with life-shortening illnesses at the hospice and at home.”

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