AN 80-YEAR-OLD widower has told how East Lancashire Hospice helped him cope with both cancer and the loss of his wife.

Greg Barratt, from Mill Hill, Blackburn, was still grieving the loss of his wife Ann, who he was married to for 49 years, when he was diagnosed with mouth cancer.

The former British Gas engineer, who has two daughters and four granddaughters, said: “My wife died in 2003 and three months later I found a lump in my mouth.

“It took me 12 months to convince people it was cancer, but I knew immediately that’s what it was.

“I had a lot of surgery and they took part of my face out. After 10 operations, radiotherapy and chemotherapy the nurses told me they could no longer operate and they referred me here.”

Since he first visited the day therapy unit in Park Lee Road, Blackburn, Greg has become known as one of the hospice’s friendliest patients, and somebody whose optimism rubs off on others.

“I’m always talking and trying to make other people smile and be happy.

“I don’t think being miserable helps. If you’re miserable everybody else is miserable and I don’t believe in that.”

Two friends Greg made at the hospice are examples of this.

“One was in his late 80s, he didn’t look too happy.

“I talked to him and got quite a good relationship with him, to the extent of him and his wife inviting me out to meals.

“His wife said to me ‘but for you he wouldn’t have stopped at the hospice, because he was determined he wouldn’t go’.”

“And a young man I met always had his phone ringing. It was his relatives.

“I said, ‘do they think you will die when you come in the hospice straight away? Because it isn’t like that, you don’t come here to die, you come here to have fun and enjoy yourself first’.

The Lancashire Telegraph’s Raise the Roof appeal aims to raise £125,000 to build a new roof over the hospice’s inpatients unit.

Greg said the value of the hospice cannot be underestimated.

“I hope people support the campaign because they may one day be in the same position I’m in.

“I would be devastated if they said I couldn’t come here.”

How to donate

  • By text - Send ROOF to 70700. Texts cost £5 plus network charge. East Lancashire Hospice receives at least £4.45. Obtain bill payers permission. Customer care 08448479800.

    Charity No 1075653.

  • Online - At eastlancshospice.org.uk/roof-appeal. Remember to add the word ‘roof’ in the comments section so it is clear the donation is for this appeal.
  • At a bank - Make a payment at any Yorkshire Bank, Account No 22741541, Sort Code 05-02-52. Locally there are branches in Accrington, Barnoldswick, Blackburn, Burnley, Chorley, Clitheroe, Colne, Nelson and Todmorden.
  • By post - Send a cheque to Roof Appeal, East Lancashire Hospice, Park Lee Road, Blackburn, BB2 3NY.
  • By phone - Pay by debit or credit card by ringing 01254 733410.

If surplus funds are raised they will be used for the general purposes of the charity.

Click on the link below for more information on the Raise The Roof campaign.