This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Family run for Papa who spent last week at Katharine House
02/12/2024
Sadly Nick Wharmby passed away during the early hours of Sunday morning
For one family Sunday’s Santa Fun Run was an opportunity to show their gratitude for the support they had received from the Katharine House Hospice during the last week – despite facing the worst possible outcome just hours before the event.
Nick Wharmby from Kidlington was transferred to the hospice from the John Radcliffe Hospital on Saturday last week. His family immediately signed-up to take part in the Santa Fun Run. Mr Wharmby’s daughters Hannah and Katie planned to run with his granddaughters Evie, Heidi and Alba, who have their own Just Giving page.
Sadly Mr Wharmby passed away during the early hours of Sunday morning. Despite the devastating news the family still wanted to take part in the Santa Fun Run.
Katie told Banbury FM: “My sister and I and our three little children – my father’s three granddaughters who he loved and adored – have all come out and done the run to raise as much money as we can for this incredible place, which we have been unlucky enough – and lucky enough – to be quite familiar with as of this week.”
Hannah added: “They really look after the whole family, nothing is too much for them. They are so nurturing; every single member of staff has been so caring for us this week and has gone above and beyond at every step, making a really horrendous, painful process as gentle as it could possibly be.”
By the end of the Santa Fun Run the family had raised £3,700, with the total still rising.
And asked what her dad would have said if he had been there Katie said: “He would be howling with laughter – the fact that we were all dressed up as Santa, running around the track! And he would be incredibly, incredibly proud and also incredibly grateful for the care that he received [at Katharine House]. Its a scary process for everybody, whether you’re the patient or the family.
“I think they made him feel so safe and so able to leave us.”
If you would like to donate to Evie Heidi and Alba’s fund raising you can do so here.
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam