VOTE Do you think it is right that the landlord of the Duke William pub in Ainsworth has been ordered to pull down a smoking shelter which had been built without planning permission?
Click here to vote.
A WOMAN from Ramsbottom is clocking up miles to raise funds for the hospice that transformed life for her and her terminally ill husband.
Mandy Rowbottom (42), of Whittingham Drive, aims to walk, run and cycle 200 miles in order to raise funds for Bury Hospice.
Her life was turned upside down in August, 2005, when husband Peter (50) was diagnosed with a massive brain tumour.
The father-of-three underwent a 12-hour operation to remove part of the tumour but complications left him paralysed and a second operation to fully remove the tumour could not be completed.
Mandy said: "We came home from a holiday in Crete like a normal family and then Peter went for an MRI scan and he didn't come out of hospital for over a year.
"I naively thought he would be back at work within six months but that was never going to happen.
advertisement
"They told me at one stage that I might never be able to bring him home but his determination saw him through."
Peter underwent rehabilitation at Birch Hill Hospital in Rochdale and was able to re-learn basic skills and physical movements, but he still cannot speak, read or write and often has to use a wheelchair for mobility.
He left hospital in September, 2006, to return home to Mandy, now his full-time carer,and children Katie (19), Abbi (17) and Josh (16).
It was only in September last year that Mandy found out how Bury Hospice, situated in Dumers Lane, Radcliffe, could help them.
Peter now attends therapy sessions every week
Mandy said: "At first I worried that the hospice would be a bit morbid but actually it's the complete opposite.
"Discovering the hospice is the best thing that's happened to us since all this began.
"The nicest thing is just having someone there to listen.
"Peter could die tomorrow or he could die next year, and life is frustrating for him because he still has his intelligence but he can't communicate.
"Before I felt like we were on our own and that people couldn't understand what we were going through but the staff at the hospice are always willing to listen.
"They have cared for me as well as for Peter and it's changed both our lives."
Mandy has signed up for the hospice's 200-mile winter challenge, when participants aim to raise sponsorship by running, walking, swimming or cycling 200 miles before the end of March.
She has already clocked up 60 miles at Ramsbottom Pool. Readers can sponsor her at www.justgiving.com/mandyrowbottom.
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
Print
Email this
Comment
