A dad whose wife spent her final days in St Giles Hospice is calling on people to get up and go orange for the charity’s Orange Week fundraiser next month.

Gareth Hine’s wife, Karen, aged 49, who had bowel cancer which had spread to her lymph nodes, died at St Giles in August 2021, following nine months of care from the hospice.

Now Gareth, aged 50, who has two sons, is urging people to join the colourful annual campaign at home, work or school to help raise funds to ensure that St Giles can continue providing care and support for local patients, and their families, living with a terminal illness.

During Orange Week, taking place between Monday, 25 April and Sunday, 1 May, everyone is invited to raise money by going orange for a day or even a whole week or by taking part in orange-themed activities to support the hospice.

Sales director Gareth said: “This fun event is about pulling together as a community to celebrate and support this vital service for local people and I would encourage everybody to sign up and take part if they can.

“St Giles provides the sort of personal, specialised care that is remarkable. We should do everything we can to make sure that the hospice is here for other families just like ours in the future when they need it.”

Gareth, from Cannock, said that despite being initially reluctant to agree to hospice care, Karen immediately responded to the supportive environment at St Giles.

He added: “When Karen arrived at St Giles she was immediately given pain management support and it was just what she needed.

“We knew that she was getting the sort of care she wouldn’t be able to get anywhere else – it was truly unique and we were all so thankful. The staff are caring and go above and beyond the call of duty to support the families they look after.”

Gareth and his sons received bereavement support from the hospice team during his wife’s final days to prepare them for their loss.

Following her death, donations from Karen’s funeral went to St Giles and Karen’s brother, Stephen Smith, took part in Cycle Autumn in 2021 to thank St Giles for caring for his sister.

In total, the family have raised more than £5,000 to support the hospice.

Get further information or request a free fundraising pack.

Pictured: Gareth Hine with his wife Karen