ROOM Three in the Woking & Sam Beare Hospice has just become the Mel Crossman room, a tribute to her family’s magnificent efforts in raising £40,000 for the hospice over the past five years.
Mel’s family were first involved with hospice in 2001 when it cared for her own mum. Wanting to give back, they started fundraising, unaware that one day Mel would be the one in need of help.
In 2017, Mel was diagnosed with a brain tumour. The following year, she spent several months in Room Three on the hospice ward before her death on August 21, 2018.
The time Mel spent in the hospice made some of the toughest times the most precious as her family spent as much time with her as possible. On her 53rd birthday, the hospice wellbeing room was filled with Mel’s relatives as they all came together to celebrate with a roast dinner, cooked by her sister.
Mel’s daughter Sophie remembers this as a cherished moment she will never forget.
“You never know when you may need to call upon the hospice yourself, and we really appreciate the support they brought to our family at the end of mum’s life,” Sophie said.
Sophie and her family joined the Midnight Walk to raise funds, and held bake sales, jumble sales and organised a silent disco.
Among many other events, they also organised a hugely successful family fun day at The Rowbarge pub in St John’s.
Twelve members of the Freedom Leisure running group that Mel used to lead ran the Surrey Half Marathon in her memory, and a team from a local business, Burns, rowed in memory of Mel at last year’s Dragon Boat Races.
“It’s lovely that my mum fundraised for the hospice in memory of her mum,” said Sophie, “and then we could continue to fundraise in her memory.”
Kerry Gibb, on behalf of the hospice, said: “We can’t thank Sophie and her family enough for the support they have given the hospice, not just for the incredible £40,000 they raised but also for the monthly donations, birthday donations and the time given to volunteer at hospice-led events.
“They truly have done their mum Mel proud.”