Daughter raises £7K for Marie Curie Hospice in memory of her Dad

A 23-year-old from Dingle has raised over £7,000 for the Marie Curie Hospice, Liverpool in memory of her dad, Neil Johnston.

Neil, who ran Admiral Park Under 15s football team, was cared for at the Woolton-based hospice for three weeks in March this year after he was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer aged 50. 

After Neil died, Courtney Johnston, together with the support of her mum, auntie and younger brother, decided to fundraise for the hospice by hosting a race night at Our Lady of Mount Carmel social club in Dingle.

The event was held on 6^th September – one day before what would have been Neil’s 51^st birthday.

The family set a target of raising £3,000 but exceeded their goal by raising more than £7,700 – more than enough to cover the cost of running the hospice in Woolton for one day.

After the donation had been made, Courtney and her family were invited to visit the hospice to see how the funds raised are being used to support local people with terminal illness and their families.

During the visit, a certificate of support bearing the family’s name was displayed in the hospice reception to thank the family for their generous donation.

Talking of her fundraising, Courtney said: “The care my dad received at the Marie Curie hospice was exactly what he and our family needed. My brother was only 14 when dad was ill, so hospice care was important for us as it meant less disruption at home.

“When I found out how much money is needed to run the hospice on a daily basis, I couldn’t believe it. This prompted us to give fundraising a go to see what we could achieve.

“Organising the race night also kept myself and my family focussed and busy after dad died – it was something to work towards. We were blown away by the support and generosity of everyone on the night, and we were so thrilled that we had raised enough to pay to run the hospice for a day.

“The team at the Marie Curie hospice in Woolton are just fantastic – they were always so positive and supportive around us, and that’s something myself and my family will always be grateful for.”

Last year the Marie Curie Hospice, Liverpool supported more than 1,266 people and it costs £6,778 to run the hospice for just one day. The hospice depends heavily on the generosity of its supporters, partners and volunteers to continue its vital work.

Diane Barker, Marie Curie Hospice, Liverpool Hospice Manager, said: “We’re so grateful for every penny that is donated to us – we couldn’t continue to provide the expert care and support we offer without the help of people like Courtney and her family.

“The Marie Curie Hospice, Liverpool, is here for people living with any terminal illness, and their families, and our wonderful team of doctors, nurses, social workers, therapists, support staff, fundraisers and volunteers all work very hard to ensure that patients and their families receive the best possible care and support at the end of life.

“It truly is testament to our fantastic team that people continue to fundraise so tirelessly for us after they’ve experienced our services.”

Find out more about Marie Curie Hospice Liverpool here.