Jaime Eaves is gearing up to take on her latest challenge next month when she will run the Liverpool Rock and Roll half marathon.

Originally from Blackburn, Jaime is no stranger to fundraising for the East Lancashire Hospice and has many events under her belt, all of which she takes part in in memory of her grandma, who was cared for there.

In the summer of 2017, Jaime’s grandad became unwell and spent a short spell in hospital, which at the time was the longest period that he and Jaime’s grandma had spent apart.

While he was in hospital, Jaime’s grandma too became unwell and was later diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Jaime says of her grandma: “Grandma didn’t stop until she had to.”

When she opted not to undergo treatment, the family rallied round her deciding to bring Jaime’s birthday celebrations as well as Christmas forward, which her grandma loved, so that the events could be enjoyed as a family as they always were.

Ten days before Christmas, Jaime’s grandma was admitted to the hospice.

Jaime remembers how on Christmas Day hospice staff brought in a buffet.

She said: “At one point there were about 12 of us in my grandma’s room. We will always be so grateful to the hospice for giving us that extra time as a family to be with my grandma.

“It made such a difference to our family.”

On January 14, 2018, just a little under a month after being admitted to the hospice, Jaime’s grandma died with Jaime and her family at her side.

Jaime recalls how just before her grandma died they had a conversation about fundraising for the hospice and her grandma made her promise to do everything she could for them after she had gone.

Jaime said: “I gave her my word that I would fundraise for them and that’s exactly what I’ve been doing since.”

A little over a year later on Father’s Day 2018, Jaime’s grandad too died after a suspected heart attack.

Determined to honour her promise to her grandma, Jaime started out by donating her commission raised for the sale of Body Shop products to the hospice.

In March 2019 Jaime went on to organise a ‘Sip and Shop’ event at Oswaldtwistle Conservative Club where she raffled off prizes to local people and sold scratch cards, raising £800.

Jaime has also participated in the hospice’s Starlight Memories Walk for the past six years which she started when a friend asked her to join her, having too lost a relative who was cared for by the hospice.

In October 202, Jaime ran 100 miles in a month. Jaime describes how she felt her grandma was with her all the way, but in particular for the last three miles.

“My grandma loved the snow and as I set off for the last stretch of my challenge it started to snow and I just knew she was with me and that I had to complete what I had started.” she said.

If you would like to support Jaime in her latest challenge visit her JustGiving page https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jaime-eaves4.