John Durkan received our team’s personalised and specialist care while living with Motor Neurone Disease, and at the end of his life before his death in 2019. In John’s memory and to help raise awareness for Saint Michael’s, Tracy Durkan and family and friends were inspired to enter a float in Ripon’s recent St Wilfrid’s Day Procession.
They came first with their fantastic “save our oceans” wagon which celebrated John and Tracy’s shared love of nature and sustainability, while raising money to help us provide our services to local families in need.
Remembering husband John and her family’s experience of our care, Tracy said:
“John loved life. He took pride in everything and was highly intelligent. He was like a sponge for any information, be it wildlife or history, and was never scared to try different things.
“The team at Saint Michael’s did such a brilliant job in caring for John, both through day therapy while he was living with Motor Neurone Disease and later when he spent just over two weeks at their Crimple House Hospice before he died.
“They treated us all so well, caring for our family as well as John.
“We couldn’t fault anyone. I can’t explain the level of care; it was absolutely extraordinary.
“After John died, we vowed to do what we could to raise awareness of Saint Michael’s, especially in our Ripon community, as well as help fund their care for families like ours.
“Our family had always wanted to enter Ripon’s famous St Wilfrid’s Day Procession. Together with our children, Charlotte and Luke, Jenna (Luke’s finance) and friends Julia and JP, we put together a wagon celebrating John and I’s love of nature.
“John was there riding the wagon with us- we had his picture proudly displayed so everyone could see him and our support of Saint Michael’s as we went past.
“We’ll keep supporting Saint Michael’s to help more people living with terminal illness receive brilliant care like our family’s, and get the word out there about the services they provide.
“To help families living with Motor Neurone Disease in particular, John made a lasting contribution by donating his brain to the study of the condition.“
If you wish, you can make a donation in John’s memory on his tribute fund here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/thejohndurkantributefund
