Whose story will your ribbon tell?
Every ribbon tied in the Hospice gardens tells a story. A reminder of the people and moments that matter most. This summer, you’re invited to add your ribbon and be part of something that brings colour and connection to so many families.
To show just how much of a difference your support can make, we’d like to share Connor’s story with you. A story of a son, his mum, and the place that supported them through their hardest days.
Connor’s mum, Penny, was known for her warmth. “She was the most carefree, fun, bubbly woman. She was always laughing and joking. She was the nicest person you could ever meet.”
A former special educational needs teacher and later a nanny, she shaped countless young lives, including Connor and his friends’. “She cared deeply about everyone in her life.”
When Penny was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer in 2020, everything changed. At the age of 22, Connor moved back in with his parents and changed jobs to help care for his mum. The family focused on making the most of the time they had. As her illness progressed, St Michael’s Hospice became a vital source of support.
From the moment Penny first stayed at the Hospice for respite care to manage her pain, she felt at ease. The gardens, the team, the sense of calm, it all mattered. “Mum loved everyone at the Hospice. It felt like a home to us all. They didn’t just care for Mum, but for all of us.” Connor shares.
Penny found joy in the Wellbeing Programme, especially the art classes, which were happening at the time, her paintings are still treasured by the family.
About four months on from her respite stay at the Hospice, Penny’s health deteriorated following a fall.
Connor and his dad, John, spent sleepless nights watching over her and caring for her. Two days later, Penny was admitted to the Hospice. Knowing she was being cared for around the clock enabled them to simply spend time together and be a family again.
“During those last 36 hours, the team wheeled in extra beds so we could all sleep in the same room. Even in the worst hours of our lives, we were made as comfortable as possible.” Connor remembers “It was like a mini party in her room, just as Mum would have wanted. There were eight of us, including our dog, Ruger, all squeezed in around Mum’s bed.”
A year on from Penny’s death in 2024, Connor and his family came to visit the Hospice and seeing a tree on the drive “filled with ribbons, bringing even more colour to the gardens,” they decided to take part in Remembrance Ribbons. “The sheer amount of ribbons showed how many people still care for those they’ve lost. They’re a physical display of memories, and celebrating Mum’s life is what she would have wanted us to do.”
Connor returns to the Hospice gardens on his mum’s birthday, and the day she died every year. This year on Penny’s birthday, 17th January, he visited for another special reason, to propose to his girlfriend, Lena. “Mum always loved the gardens at the Hospice, so it was important for me to propose there. I feel Mum’s presence the most when I’m there.”
The Hospice holds huge significance for Connor and his family, so the reason to join the colourful, vibrant display is simple to them, “the care the Hospice provides at the worst moments of people’s lives is amazing, but it all requires funding.
“Supporting the Hospice is vital, so they can continue to provide the level of care you get from them, not just the medical care, but the way they look after everyone to make those final days as positive as they can be.
“As long as the ribbons are there,” he says, “we will always take part.”
