Room 3 – the Mel Crossman Room
On May 4th, 2023, Room 3 in the Hospice became known as the ‘Mel Crossman room’. This significant moment touched the hearts of Mel’s family and friends who have raised an impressive £40,000 for the Hospice over the last five years.
2001 saw Mel’s family start their journey with the Hospice as we cared for her own mum. Wanting to give back, they started fundraising, unaware that one day Mel herself would be the one in need of help.
In 2017, Mel was diagnosed with a brain tumour. The following year, she spent several months in Room 3 on the Hospice ward before sadly dying on 21st August, 2018. The time Mel spent in the Hospice made some of the toughest times the most precious as her family spent as much time with her as possible. On her 53rd birthday, the Hospice Wellbeing room was filled with Mel’s relatives as they all came together to celebrate with a delicious roast dinner, cooked by her sister.
Mel’s daughter, Sophie, remembers this as a cherished moment she won’t ever forget. “You never know when you may need to call upon the Hospice yourself, and we really appreciate the support they brought to our family at the end of Mum’s life.”
The first fundraising event that Sophie and her family attended after her mum died was the Midnight Walk. Mel loved music and her name, Melody, couldn’t have been more fitting. With this in mind, Sophie made a playlist to accompany her on the walk and played it the whole way, proudly singing along. Abba songs were a strong favourite and emotions poured out as Sophie and her family joined in with the lyrics to ‘Thank you for the music’.
Following this, the momentum just kept going as Sophie and her family came up with new ways to raise money for the Hospice. As well as joining in with Hospice led events, they held their own bake sales and jumble sales, and organised a silent disco. They organised a family fun day at the Rowbarge pub in St Johns which was a great success as people enjoyed coming together. It was also moving to see twelve members of the Freedom Leisure running group that Mel used to lead, run the Surrey Half Marathon in her memory. A team from local business, Burns, also had a fabulous day the Dragon Boat Races in 2022 where they rowed in memory of Mel.
When Covid struck, they didn’t let this get in their way as they adapted and organised virtual events including a quiz, a bingo night, and ‘care for a cuppa’. Some family members even ran the virtual London Marathon. Sophie’s uncle became very inventive when he decided to make jam from figs that he grew in his garden to sell in aid of the Hospice.
Perhaps some of the most daring fundraisers came to the forefront as Sophie and her aunt braved a Firewalk over burning embers, and her aunt, uncle, and cousin had the thrilling experience of a Skydive!
“It’s lovely that my mum fundraised for the Hospice in memory of her mum,” said Sophie, “and then we could continue to fundraise in her memory.”
We can’t thank Sophie and her family enough for the support they have given the Hospice, not just for the incredible £40,000 they raised but also for the monthly donations, birthday donations and the time given to volunteer at Hospice led events. They truly have done their mum, Mel, proud.