Woman who learned to walk again inspired to fundraise as a ‘thank you’ to hospice staff

Judy Armstrong is living her best life again thanks to the support she received from nursing and support staff at a Wrexham Hospice.

Judy, from Flintshire was unable to walk when she first came to Nightingale House last year but after intensive physiotherapy, she now walks unaided at home.

She has been so inspired by the care and support she has received during her weekly visits to the hospice on Chester Road, Wrexham that she decided to do her bit and raise vital funds towards patient care, for those with life-limiting illnesses and their families.

Surprised by the fact that all the facilities she accessed were free, Judy decided to do her own fundraising as a way of saying thank you for the care she received. She rallied friends and family, and shop owners in Buckley who kindly donated items for two hampers and a raffle, raising over £500 for the charity. She also crocheted Remembrance Day poppies in aid of the hospice and the Royal British Legion.

Judy said: “When I was told my cancer came back, I felt I needed to protect my family and friends. The support I get at Nightingale House makes me feel brave.”

Despite a breast cancer diagnosis in 2017 and the return of her cancer last year Judy has embraced the services on offer including wood carving, and complementary therapies. She is currently part way through the popular six-week Positive Action Programme, a course that gives participants support and help with coping strategies on their wellness journey including mindfulness, managing stress, worry and fatigue.

More and more people are living with treatable but not curable cancer (often called chronic cancer, cancer that cannot be cured or cancer that has come back) and the programme is aimed at cultivating a positive approach to this type of illness and enhance their quality of life.

Judy wasn’t sure whether she would ever walk again and when she asked her consultant if it was ever going to happen, he suggested she came to the hospice for physiotherapy.

She added: “I walk into the hospice and immediately I experience warmth, generosity and kindness from everyone who works here. I believe kindness is the most expensive medicine and must come from inside and that makes a big difference. The team are brilliant and help me cope better with my illness.”

“All my misconceptions of what a hospice was about were blown out of the water and I felt like I’d opened a treasure chest to alternative therapies like reiki and reflexology.”

Head of Income Generation, Laura Parry said: “We are delighted that Judy has been able to access our services and found them beneficial and of course her fundraising efforts have been amazing. Fundraising on behalf of our patients is what keeps us doing what we do, so to hear that Judy has had such a positive experience is a brilliant motivator. ”

Judy is now busy crocheting Easter bunnies to be sold in the Hospice Gift Shop at Nightingale House Hospice.

Picture Caption: Fundraising champion and Nightingale House patient Judy Armstrong.