Keen fundraiser Don Wilkes will remember three family members cared for by City Hospice with a daffodil this summer as he supports Forever Flowers.
Forever Flowers is an annual campaign, now in its fifth year, which invites supporters to remember cherished family members, friends, colleagues and other loved ones with a unique and lasting tribute. The limited edition flowers will feature in a striking display within the grounds of Cardiff Castle from Saturday 2 to Sunday 10 August, with a special Celebration of Life event taking place on Thursday 7 August.
The charity’s Forever Flower this year is the daffodil, Wales’ national flower, which for many symbolises hope, resilience and new beginnings.
Don’s daffodil will be dedicated to and celebrate the lives of his mum Beryl, stepfather Dan, who he regarded as his dad, and uncle Gordon.
The family first experienced the care of City Hospice after Dan, a keen gardener, was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma following a holiday with his wife.
Dan and Beryl, who enjoyed doing needlework and crosswords, first met in the Inland Revenue where they worked as tax officers. The couple loved to listen to music, attend concerts and the theatre, and travel together in their spare time when employed and later in their long and happy retirement.
Don said: “As a family we were all very upset and shocked as Dan had always been so fit and active and had only just been on holiday to Paris and London before the diagnosis.
“When Dan was discharged home, he was referred to City Hospice. We had heard about the hospice before but hadn’t had any involvement with their care or work. We were very worried about Dan’s prognosis and wanted to make sure he would be pain free. City Hospice reassured us, helped explain the journey ahead and kept Dan pain free and comfortable. They were available to discuss any concerns we had or assistance we needed; this helped our family to know that there would be a lot of support for us.
“When Mum and Uncle Gordon needed their care, we were reassured. We knew we were in good hands.”
City Hospice provided specialist palliative care to Beryl to manage her idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis symptoms and to Gordon, a former primary school teacher and avid train enthusiast, following his posterior cortical atrophy diagnosis.
Don said: “Dr Margred Capel, Mum’s nurse Stevie and Gordon’s nurse Lowri were so supportive and compassionate, managing their care, symptoms and comfort and always very helpful with any queries or concerns. Stevie was very helpful and empathetic, ensuring Mum had the best care while also highlighting counselling that I could apply for. I found those sessions useful and I am grateful to City Hospice for providing such an excellent service.”
To say thank you, Don has been fundraising for the charity over several years, raising thousands of pounds. Don decided to undertake 50 challenges such as completing an Ironman and collecting a mile of pennies before his 50thbirthday in 2016, teamed up with his wife, children and their partners for the ‘Take a Walk in My Shoes’ challenge in 2020, and took part in a barefoot Firewalk earlier this year on what would have been Dan’s 100th birthday.
Now, Don and his family will be uniting with others this summer to support Forever Flowers.
Don added: “Forever Flowers is a special way that we can come together as family to remember Dan, Mum and Gordon, while supporting the charity that cared for them so brilliantly. We can’t wait to see our daffodil on display!”
