A RUNCORN woman is taking part in a fun run to thank hospice staff for the first class care they gave her mum.

Ellyse Shepherd and her boyfriend Callum hope to get covered from head to foot in brightly coloured powder paint at St Rocco’s colour run round Walton Gardens on bank holiday Monday.

“My mum was welcomed into St Rocco’s Hospice in August of last year,” said student Ellyse, 20, from Sandymoor.

“For many people when they hear the word hospice it conjures up a rather gloomy image but what we experienced couldn’t be further from that.

“St Rocco’s offered my mum a wonderful place full of life, laughter and endless cups of tea and plenty of cake!

“The fabulous nurses, carers and volunteers became friends who were always there to lend an ear.”

Staff provided a safe haven for Ellyse and her family to talk openly, support for each other and reminisce favourite memories. It almost became like home.

Ellyse added: “In mum’s final weeks St. Rocco’s was a place where she felt comfortable, a place where she was always treated with the upmost dignity and her wishes always respected.

“It provided a place for me to sleep when I couldn’t leave her and a beautiful space for us to spend our final times together, creating very special memories that I can treasure forever.”

Ellyse is keen to help ensure that other families have the opportunity to benefit from the care and support that St. Rocco’s provides.

The charity relies on the support and generosity of the community to fundraise £3.6 million a year to keep the hospice going.

“ I hope by doing this run and raising as much money as we can that it will go some way to show how truly grateful we are.” she added.

“The care they give is truly is second to none. I will be forever grateful to St Rocco’s for everything they did for my beautiful mum.”

To sponsor Ellyse visit justgiving.com/fundraising/ellyse-shepherd.