Volunteer service reducing risk of falls in the community
Team GB’s Lola Anderson, who won a gold medal in the women’s rowing quadruple skulls at this year’s Paris Olympics and Holly Dunford, who won a bronze in the women’s eights joined Kingston Hospital Charity’s special Night to Remember memory walk, to raise money to support bereaved families at Kingston Hospital.
Lola, who was born at Kingston Hospital and is originally from Richmond walked in memory of her Dad, who was treated for cancer at the hospital three years ago.
Lola said: “I’m proud to have the privilege of walking alongside bereaved families – some of the strongest and bravest people, who despite their own grief, want to raise money so that other families get the best possible support if the worst happened to them.
“My Dad spent a lot of time receiving treatment from the wonderful staff at Kingston hospital and so it was an honour to take part and celebrate them and the community within the hospital.”
The event, which took place on the evening of Saturday 7 September provided the opportunity for family, friends, and colleagues to come together and celebrate the lives of loved ones, whilst walking a route of six and a half or 13 miles, starting and finishing at the Market Place in Kingston.
Lisa, another event participant, who was walking in memory of her mum Linda, said: “My mum passed away at Kingston Hospital nine months ago. The people there treated her with dignity and compassion. They did the most marvellous job. It was an awful time for the family, but she couldn’t have been in a better place. We are really proud about what Kingston Hospital offered her at the time.”
The money raised at this year’s Night to Remember will go towards ensuring parents that have to face the devastation of their child dying at the hospital are provided with specialist psychological support from an experienced bereavement psychologist.
Research shows that bereaved families are at a higher risk of mental and physical poor health and that psychological support is very important in helping to improve this.