Woman in her 70s to skydive in aid of Moya Cole Hospice
Maggie Eyre will be jumping from 7,500 feet in the sky to raise funds for Moya Cole Hospice. You can read about her and her husband David's adventures and experiences of care at the hospice below.
Maggie Eyre, who is in her 70s, will be jumping out of a plane 7,500ft high in the sky with her son Mathew and her granddaughter Milly to raise funds for Moya Cole Hospice, who cared for her husband, David.
David was diagnosed with cancer three times over the course of his life, first in 2008 and again in 2013, overcoming the illness twice.
In 2021, David was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and later in his illness, he became an outpatient at Moya Cole Hospice mainly for pain management and symptom control.
Maggie and David lived an adventurous life together. Following David’s recovery from his illness in 2008 the two booked their first long haul holiday to Canada and Alaska.
“David’s diagnosis, and thankfully his positive response to treatment, made us reassess our priorities. The kids were settled, and so we thought, why not see a bit of the world?” Maggie said.
It makes me smile to remember the white-knuckle ride in a jet boat along the Shotover River in New Zealand; travelling up a mountain in Northern Sweden at night in an open ski lift with the Northern Lights dancing around us; the very close encounter with a humpback whale off the coast of Vancouver Island, Canada, a hot air balloon ride at dawn towards the Drakensberg Mountains in South Africa. Maggie Eyre, Moya Cole Hospice Supporter
“There are special memories from all our trips. Our visit to Japan comes into that category. The people we met were very welcoming, the culture so different to here in the UK and the food amazing.”
Maggie continued: “We took part in a traditional tea ceremony. As the ceremony ended our host offered to dress me in a traditional kimono. I readily agreed. She then proceeded to skillfully drape me in material she had chosen from the huge array of rolls of fabric in her work room. Once she was satisfied with her handiwork, she took this photo [see below]. Her creation looks perfect from the front but is held in place at the back with laundry legs. A clever illusion that made us both laugh.
David initially responded well to his treatment following his diagnosis in 2021 and he enjoyed a good quality of life for two years. This enabled David and Maggie to have one more long-haul holiday together, this time visiting Costa Rica and then on to the Galapagos. Maggie said that visiting the Galapagos had long been on their ‘bucket list’.
“We were so lucky to be able to snorkel in the seas around the islands then hike across volcanic landscapes. Such amazing stand out memories,” she said.
David was referred to Moya Cole Hospice for support with managing the increasing abdominal discomfort he was experiencing as a result of the complex surgery he had undergone following his initial diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in 2021. In those initial consultations Dr. Waterman provided advice and care to David. The consultations were detailed and wide ranging. Maggie said that David always felt that his thoughts and feelings were central to decisions made with him about his care. We were always met with kindness by all the staff at Moya Cole Hospice from the initial welcome from reception staff to medical staff or staff and volunteers met in passing.
Moya Cole Hospice was a safe place where people understood and were there to help in whatever way they could Maggie Eyre, Moya Cole Hospice Supporter
“We both felt extremely lucky to have access to such a valuable resource.”
When David was told his cancer had progressed to stage four, he decided he’d like to have a ‘gathering’ of family and friends he’d made over the years. ‘Why wait until my funeral?’ he said ‘I’d rather have a party whilst I’m around to enjoy it!’
So David and Maggie organised a ‘living wake’ – a celebration of David’s life and friendships with balloons, good food and the odd alcoholic drink, along with plenty of opportunities to chat.
“It was a brilliant afternoon. My pragmatic, positive, and optimistic husband gave a short speech, peppered with his dark sense of humour, and a good time was had by all.”
It was David’s wish to die at home. He died peacefully at home in his own bed earlier this year.
“We as a family will always be grateful to Moya Cole Hospice and we hope that, in some small way, our sky jump and the money it raises will help towards Moya Coles neverending struggle to maintain funding and continue to be the wonderful, irreplaceable resource it is,” Maggie said.
Maggie and her family have already raised over £1,500. You can donate to their JustGiving page, here