Sisters raise £27k for hospice in mum's memory

A tribute fund set up by two daughters when their mum died has raised more than £27,000 in ten years.

Becky Rowland died in 2014 at Prospect Hospice, Swindon, and daughters Michaela and Kristy Rowland began fundraising for the charity soon afterwards.

Over the years, the sisters and their supporters have covered about 1,600 miles in various challenges and have run numerous fundraising events.

Speaking about their mum, the sisters said: "She had a real love for life. One of the biggest things is that she had a huge heart as well - she really loved people."

Ms Rowland initially had breast cancer in 2013, before going through treatment and into remission.

But the cancer returned the following year, along with an inoperable tumour in her brain, leaving her only months to live.

Michaela explained that they were moved to begin supporting Prospect Hospice after seeing how staff there looked after their mum, and decided to launch the Becky Rowland Tribute Fund.

"We really wanted to make a promise to mum that we would keep the fundraising going," Michaela said.

She said that it started with 10k runs, then "escalated".

"The past 10 years, although it has flown, has been lovely to have so many things to focus on, even during Covid, thinking of ways to carry on."

Marathons, skydives and Kristy's partner doing a 100km run have all been on the list.

Prospect Hospice, based just outside Swindon in Wroughton, provides services free to patients in the area, receiving 75% of the £8.5m it needs to run each year from donations.

Michaela said her mum would be "really proud" of her daughters: "It's easy to keep the momentum up for a few years and then it fall.

"We know Prospect needs us more now than ever, we hope that other people that are touched by the amazing magic that the hospice provides will do the same thing."

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