By Leicester Mercury | Posted: 12 June, 2014
The wife and mum of a police officer who spent his final days in Leicestershire's LOROS hospice have shared their family's story to help raise funds for the charity.
Pc Phil Read, who was based at Wigston police station, died in October last year, 10 months after he was diagnosed with stomach cancer.
The 41-year-old father-of-two spent his final 10 days at LOROS and was filled with admiration for the staff and volunteers there, his wife, Jo, and mum Ellaine said.
They were at Wigston police station yesterday for the latest LOROS spring draw.
The draw is one of the ways the hospice raises the £4.5 million it needs to find each year to keep going.
Pc Read's family gave their consent to LOROS telling his story in promotional leaflets for the prize draw.
Jo, 42, of Narborough, said: "He thought everyone at LOROS was fantastic and he would be proud to know he was helping them by having his story told in this way.
Ellaine, 67, added: "We got the news in January 2103 that he was ill and it was horrendous.
"He did not want to die at home or in a hospital, so he spent his final days at LOROS.
"We all thought everyone there were fantastic. They did everything possible to make him as comfortable as possible.
"Phil would have loved sharing his story if it meant it helped LOROS."
LOROS lottery manager Liz Singleton said: "Our raffles offer our supporters the chance to win some fantastic prizes but more importantly raise much-needed funds for LOROS.
"Phil raised lots of money for the causes that helped him following his diagnosis and his wife Jo says he would have been so thrilled to be part of the LOROS spring raffle.
"I'd like to say a huge thank-you to our supporters who purchased tickets and sent in donations.
"I can't thank everyone enough. It is only through the generosity of so many people that we continue to be able to provide care to our patients and their families at a time when they need it most."
Nearly 88,000 tickets were placed into the draw, with the money raised giving a huge boost to funding for the hospice, which is In Groby Road, Leicester.
To find out how you can support LOROS and take part in its raffles and its lottery, call 0116 231 8430, or see www.loros.co.uk
