Marathon effort to thank hospital

09 October 2007

The brother of a patient who lost her fight for life at Chelsea and Westminster has raised almost £6,000 for the hospital by running the London Marathon.

The brother of a patient who lost her fight for life at Chelsea and Westminster has raised almost £6,000 for the hospital by running the London Marathon.

Stephen Canning’s sister Caroline was cared for at Chelsea and Westminster and his fundraising efforts were his way of saying thank you to hospital staff.

Dr Sarah Cox, Consultant in Palliative Care, said: “Stephen raised an amazing £5,826 which we hope will pay for a piece of medical equipment which will have Caroline’s name inscribed on it. I would like to thank Stephen personally on behalf of the hospital for his fundraising efforts which will benefit many other patients.”

Stephen explained: “I decided to run the marathon to raise funds for the hospital because all Caroline’s family and friends wanted to express our gratitude to all the wonderful staff at Chelsea and Westminster in recognition of their warmth, compassion, dedication and devotion.

“They all made Caroline’s final few weeks more bearable, for which we are eternally grateful. We hold very close to our hearts all the concern that the staff showered upon Caroline and us. We cannot thank them enough, they all know who they are.”

Stephen completed this year’s London Marathon in just four hours and 10 minutes.

He said: “The marathon was fantastic! The crowd and atmosphere were electric and that inspired me to drive on for the last six gruelling miles which seemed like a lifetime.”

Paying tribute to his sister, Stephen said: “We all miss Caroline’s amazing smile which illuminated any room she walked into. She lived a life full of music, travelling and she will always be an object of beauty and strength to her family and friends.

“She put everyone else first. I recall a time during her treatment on Francis Burdett Ward when a nurse asked Caroline if she would like an electric bed and she promptly replied that ‘An old person or someone else might need the bed more than me’. She remained calm, dignified and serene even through her darkest days and nights in hospital.”

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George Vasilopoulos