The family of a “lovely dad” is raising money in his memory to thank the ambulance service for the care they provided during the final months of his life. Ron Perry, who was 83, passed away in May this year following a struggle against stomach cancer.
During the “amazing” support he received from his local ambulance service, Ron wanted to thank them by delivering cakes and biscuits to the 999 crews at Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford, Kent. Sadly, he never got around to doing so, but his daughter Jane and other family members have been helping to fulfil his wish by organising tea parties in Ron’s memory, with all the proceeds going to TASC, The Ambulance Staff Charity.
A tea party and raffle held at Jane’s house in London in July raised £587, while money is also coming in from a cake sale held at a local toddler group. Childminder Jane, 50, who has four daughters, Emma, 32, Grace, 28, and 14-year-old twins Maddie and Hollie, said:
“It’s all in memory of my lovely dad. He was such a lovely bloke that everyone wanted to do something to help.”
Mr Perry, who worked as a painter and decorator, was diagnosed with stomach cancer after suffering a burst ulcer about 18 months previously. He underwent two bouts of chemotherapy but passed away in May. Added Jane:
“The ambulance service were just amazing and so caring. It seemed that out of everybody who cared for dad they were the only consistent people. They listened and were also so good with my mum, explaining what was going on and reassuring her. They also used to put him on a drip at home if he needed one rather than go through A & E.
“The ambulance service is second to none and everything they did for him was amazing, so I wanted to help them and give something back. My dad kept saying can you get some cakes and biscuits and take them to the hospital for the ambulance staff who were there, but because it all happened so quickly we never did it. So, the idea of a tea party was born. My daughter Emma made all the cakes and we invited friends and family and loads of people donated gifts for the raffle. So, in a way, we’ve done it now and had the tea party in his memory.”
Jane, who also has three grandchildren, is now planning to hold a Christmas fete and possibly a disco also in aid of TASC.
For more information about TASC, The Ambulance Staff Charity please visit www.theasc.org.uk or call 02477 987922
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