TUDDENHAM: They supported their daughter when she needed it most – and now Richard and Clare Ward hope to repay the hospice staff who were only ever a phone call away.

The duo have been fundraising for St Elizabeth Hospice’s help at home team, who offered support and “second to none” services when their daughter Cathy was fighting cancer.

Cathy, 23, of Tuddenham, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in November 2010 – although her family believe she could have been living with the illness for years.

Described by her dad as “a kind, thoughtful and beautiful person”, Cathy died on March 16, last year.

To ensure she could remain with her family in her own environment, Cathy’s family contacted St Elizabeth Hospice and asked for the help of their Hospice at Home team.

Now to thank the hospice for their care, Mr Ward will join five others in tackling the Silverstone half marathon on March 11, having already raised more than �2,000 in other fundraising activities.

Mr Ward, who works at BT Adastral Park, said: “We hoped to raise enough money to cover the amount it costs to run the hospice for the time we are actually running the half marathon, so that would be between �1,300 and �1,500 depending how long it takes and considering it takes �13 a minute to run the hospice.

“We are delighted to say that we have surpassed that and we are confident we will get to �2,000.”

“Cathy was a kind, thoughtful and beautiful person who inspired everyone who knew her. She had a brilliant sense of humour.”

Mr Ward thanked the Hospice at Home team for their “amazing work”.

“What they do is absolutely amazing. Nothing was ever too much for them and they were only ever a phone call away,” he added.

To help the Ward family in their quest to raise funds for the hospice, visit www.mydonate.bt.com/ fundraisers/richardward1

n Would you like to pay tribute to Cathy Ward? Write to Your Letters, Ipswich Star, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or send an e-mail to starnews@archant.co.uk