Emily’s Dublin Marathon effort raised funds

 Emily Garside was spurred on to pull on her running shoes and complete the Dublin Marathon in aid of St Nicholas Hospice Care and raise £1,328 in memory of her nana.

Although Emily’s nana didn’t receive care from the hospice, she was keen to support the charity’s education efforts, in particular its programme which supports care home staff providing end-of-life care.

Emily said: “Last year my nana died of vascular dementia. My nana was an amazing woman and me and my family miss her every day.

“Dementia is a cruel disease. Though my nana lost many things, I believe that deep down she never lost the qualities that made her who she was. On my last visit to see her, she comforted me when I cried and made sure I was ok.

“My nana died in a care home and my mum and uncle, both of whom are trained nurses, looked after her alongside the amazing staff.

“However, unfortunately many people with dementia don’t have the care and support they need at the end of their lives and many will end up dying in hospital in an unfamiliar place.

“Though this may be the right place for some, for others it is not. The hospice is an amazing place and it helps give the support people at the end of life need and deserve.”

Despite vowing to never to undertake a marathon after her last one three-years-ago, Emily, who’s mum Debra is also the hospice’s Clinical Services Manager, completed the run on October 29,  in three hours and 51 minutes and is already planning to take part in the Berlin Marathon in September next year.