£663 raised for Hospice at Home Carlisle with birthday party

Elsie Thompson has lived in Carlisle for much of her life having moved from Haltwhistle when she was just a girl. 

On October 21, she celebrated her 90th birthday at Carlisle Golf Club, enjoying a 'delicious afternoon tea' alongside three of her children and four of her seven grandchildren, with the aim of raising vital funds for Hospice at Home.

Elsie's daughter Elaine helped to raise money for the Cumbrian charity by walking 90 miles and completing 90 squats a day. 

In total, they would raise an incredible £663.45 for Hospice at Home, a charity which is close to Elsie's heart. 

Her husband, the former Carlisle United footballer Ron 'Ginger' Thompson, was cared for by Hospice at Home before his passing from bowel cancer in 2020 at the age of 88. 

Elsie celebrated her 90th birthday on October 21 (Image: Supplied)

Elaine said: "The main reason for supporting Hospice at Home is due to the care they provided for my dad in 2020 during Covid. If he’d had to go into hospital or a hospice my mam wouldn’t have been able to see him due to the restrictions at that time.

"When we were planning mam’s birthday, she was clear she didn’t want gifts but would like to support Hospice at Home and that got me thinking about how I could help.

"Daily walks seemed an obvious choice so I committed to doing three miles a day to reach 90 over the month. And my eldest son Steve, who lives in Nashville, was doing 'Squatober' so I decided to add in 90 squats a day too.

"We went on holiday to Torremolinos during October and those walks were very pleasant in the warm sunshine!"

Elaine was keen to pay tribute to the incredible work that Hospice at Home does.

She said: "It's absolutely vital. Hospices are great places but if you can manage to keep people in their own homes where they have familiar things around them, it's a brilliant thing that they do.

"They are amazing."