Heartbeat: Family’s generous donation in memorial to colleague Julie Harris

September 10, 2019

On the hottest day of the year the sun was burning bright in the sky over Rowley Regis Hospital, inside however staff and relatives were celebrating a different ray of light in their lives – that of former colleague Julie Harris who passed away last year while under the care of the Palliative Care team at the age of 54.

Julie, who worked in domestic services, was a part of our organisation for 23 years and only left in June of 2018 due to her illness before passing away in August.

Since that time, the family has rallied together and hosted a charity night to raise money in support of the palliative care team, and as part of the lunch celebrating Julie they presented the team with a cheque for £3,900.

“She was a beautiful woman, and will be sorely missed,” Julie’s husband Malcolm Harris told the gathering in Rowley Regis Hospital’s Heart of Sandwell Day Hospice. “Julie would have appreciated this today. Because the team put so much into caring for Julie, we just wanted to give something back. It shortly would have been her 55th birthday and we’re trying to remember her as she would want to be remembered.”

Funds were raised with a charity night, spearheaded by Malcolm, Julie’s two daughters and Malcolm’s future son-in-law who was a part of the band that performed. Sales from the tickets went towards the fund and Malcolm told Heartbeat that the family hopes to repeat the show next year, again for the benefit of the connected palliative care service. “The care that Julie received from the palliative care team was marvellous. We felt it was right to give something back.” The funds that have been raised by the Harris family will go towards improvement works at the Day Hospice, which will include the addition of an extra therapy room and a counselling room as well as updates to facilities like the kitchen and garden areas. All of which will benefit other patients on the road Julie travelled in the years ahead.

Sue Law, Palliative Team Leader spoke to Heartbeat on the team’s amazement at the achievement.

“We really want to thank Malcolm and his family today for the fundraising they have done. At one of the most difficult times of their lives they have spent their time fundraising for us, and we are very, very grateful for that. I can’t tell you how overwhelmed we are as a team that people like Malcolm and his family would do that for us.”