An Exmouth widow, whose husband recently died from cancer, has braved a head-shave in his memory and thanked the ‘brilliant’ Hospiscare staff who supported him in his last days.
Lynda Barrett, from Exmouth, took on a sponsored head shave, on June 2, in memory of her husband, Keith Barrett, at the town’s Conservative Club, raising hundreds of pounds for Hospiscare South West.
Keith sadly died at home, in March, just five months after a diagnosis of mouth cancer, and Lynda says the charity provided a vital lifeline for both of them throughout the difficult time.
“The staff that looked after my husband were absolutely brilliant,” Lynda said, “so I thought, why not raise some money for them?
“They were very informative; they tell you everything they are doing and what they are going to do and they offered medical and emotional support for both of us.”
Lynda’s sponsored shave raised £367.04 and also allowed the charity to claim £67.62 in Gift Aid.
Both she and Keith agreed before he died that she should do the head shave and Exmouth Conservative Club, where they had both been regulars ‘for years’, was chosen as the location.
Lynda said: “I knew in the back of my mind if I did it in my local club they would pay to see me do it. They all said it suited me!”
Lynda hopes her fundraiser will not only help the charity continue supporting people with life-limiting illnesses and their families, and also make more people aware of the existence of Hospiscare South West.
She said: “I think people need it; I was doing everything on my own for a couple of weeks and then I found out about them, just through talking to somebody.
“I would just like to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for their support and for looking after my husband.”
Lucy Hancock, of Exmouth & Lympstone Hospiscare Centre, said: “Our sincere thanks go to Lynda for doing such a brave and wonderful thing for our charity in memory of her Husband Keith.
“The money that Lynda and her supporters have raised will be used towards our Hospiscare@Home service.
“This provides hands-on nursing care in patients own homes when required, any time, day or night, supporting adult patients with life-limiting illnesses who wish to remain at home at the end of their lives.”
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