On 16th March 2023, Maggie McMahon was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. After a year of fighting, Maggie’s health sadly deteriorated, and in March 2024 she was admitted to Coventry Myton Hospice. After a few weeks at Myton, Maggie died peacefully in April 2024.
To mark the first anniversary of their mum’s passing, Emily and her brother James wanted to do something meaningful in her memory. Emily shared:
We wanted to do something we knew Mum would’ve loved. One of her favourite things was going on walks with our dad – she loved being outdoors and taking in beautiful views.
The siblings decided to climb Mount Snowdon in her honour. Emily said:
When Mum was receiving palliative care, she stayed at Myton for the remainder of her time. The staff there couldn’t do enough. They cared for her with so much love and compassion, and they made her as comfortable as possible. They supported us as a family too, making us feel welcome and looked after. Even now, a year on from Mum’s death, they continue to offer us support whenever we need it.
Reflecting on the challenge, Emily added:
The hardest part was actually before you even reach Snowdon itself – there are three huge hills to tackle first and they really take it out of you! The wind near the summit was brutal too. But the most rewarding moment was reaching the top and being able to bring a photo of Mum with us. We wanted her to see the views – James and I knew it was something she would’ve loved. We’re proud to have made Dad proud, and Mum too.
Emily, James and their family raised an incredible £2,055, including a generous £400 donation from Emily’s colleagues.
Emily continued:
It’s really important to us to continue supporting Myton. The staff and volunteers went above and beyond for Mum, and we’ll always be grateful. Each year on her birthday and anniversary, we want to raise as much as we can to help others receive the same amazing care Mum was so lucky to have.
Marc Dwyer, Challenge Events Lead at The Myton Hospices, said:
We’d like to say a huge thank you and congratulations to Emily, James, and their family for completing such an inspiring challenge and raising a fantastic amount for Myton.
We are a charity, we are not the NHS, and we have to raise £12.7 million of the £15.3 million it costs this year to continue providing our services free of charge to our patients and their loved ones across Coventry and Warwickshire.
We rely on our local community to support our vital work, and we simply couldn’t do it without people like Emily, James, their family and generous supporters. Thank you!
Have you been inspired to take on your own challenge in memory of a loved one or to support your local hospice?
