Family raise an incredible £26,000 for Kettering hospice

Ken felt safe and comfortable at the hospice and his family are saying thank you by raising vital funds
Richard Dobbs joining in the Cransley BIG cycle from ShanghaiRichard Dobbs joining in the Cransley BIG cycle from Shanghai
Richard Dobbs joining in the Cransley BIG cycle from Shanghai

The family of a man who spent four weeks at Kettering's Cransley Hospice have raised an incredible £26,000 to say thank you.

Ken Dobbs was diagnosed with an aggressive form of oesophageal cancer in October 2012 and died aged just 57 three months later, having been admitted to Cransley in December.

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He left behind three beloved sons, Michael, Andy and Richard, Lynn, his girlfriend of seven years, and his ex-wife and good friend, Gill.

Michael said: “You could see he was physically relieved to be there. Whilst at Cransley, he was back to himself, cracking (bad) jokes and playing tricks on the hospice staff and visitors.

"He felt safe and comfortable which made it easier for us. We knew that he was well looked after, and he wouldn’t feel alone.

“During his four weeks in the hospice the staff were incredible, explaining things, reassuring us and helping us as a family. Cransley Hospice will forever have a special place in our hearts.

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"It helps so many families like ours through such difficult times with an unrelenting level of care and support. Because of this, our family will continue to raise money and support Cransley Hospice.”

Since Ken died the whole family have been involved, fundraising in so many ways by abseiling, cycling, running the London Marathon, hosting golf days and even running an annual quiz which due to Covid-19, this year had to be cancelled. Michael is determined it will return either later this year or next year.

On August 2, Michael and his brothers took part in the Cransley Big Cycle hoping to raise £1,000.

They raised an incredible £2,000 which has taken the total amount raised by the family in the last seven years to more than £26,000.

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Michael and Andy had already planned to cycle the 100km route of the 2019 event around Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire but had a nice surprise on the day when they were joined, virtually, by their brother Richard who cycled 100km around Shanghai where he now lives.

Cransley Hospice provides specialist palliative care to patients with complex needs in north Northamptonshire but due to the pandemic, the charity expects the fundraising income to be

reduced by around £450,000 this year.

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