13 May 2023 Community

Amelia Atkinson is walking for her grandparents Brian and Janette at The Kirkwood Memory Walk 2023

Amelia Atkinson is taking part in The Kirkwood Memory Walk for the third time as she remembers her grandparents Janette Green and Brian Atkinson. Both were cared for by our amazing nurses, Brian died over a decade ago, and Janette died in 2021 whilst on our In-Patient Unit in Dalton. 

Amelia is proud to be raising funds for The Kirkwood and taking part in the walk on the night with her boyfriend Korban. She spoke to The Kirkwood about how we cared for her grandparents and why she feels doing The Kirkwood Memory Walk is important. 

On remembering them both Amelia reflected: "I knew a bit because my grandad had been cared for by The Kirkwood about ten years ago. I was quite young but all I heard was good things about The Kirkwood from my mum and dad telling me about when grandad was being cared for by The Kirkwood. So I knew a little bit but as I have got older I now know more about what you do.

"My grandma was diagnosed with cancer in 2020. She was doing well for quite a while and then she started to go downhill very quickly and unexpectedly.

"She'd been in hospital in Leeds for about three weeks after having a fall. She was then admitted into The Kirkwood In-Patient Unit after the hospital failed to tell us that she had lost her speech because the cancer had gone to her brain. 

"When we got to The Kirkwood we were so welcomed and felt like we had so much support straight away. They were just great with my grandma. I was at college at the time she was admitted into The Kirkwood, I would go every day after college and spend time with her. It was during COVID-19 so things were difficult. They did let me and my mum go in the room to sit with her whilst my dad, uncle and auntie would sit in the garden. It didn't matter that she couldn't communicate very well with us, it was just nice for her to know that we were there to see her. 

"She was only on The Kirkwood's In-Patient Unit for a few weeks before she died. We were very close to her, me and my mum would take her shopping. I'd go look after her dog and do any cleaning around the house she needed when she lived at home.

"I remember when it was my grandma's birthday and we were having a really rough day. The nurses brought us in some cakes to celebrate, it became an afternoon tea party. We were happy to pay for it but they wouldn't take any money for doing it, they didn't have to go out of their way like that. 

"That was so kind and special of them to do that, I had a bit of a wobble and got upset so I took myself outside into the garden. I found it so relaxing and it calmed me down."

Amelia had previously done The Kirkwood Memory Walk in 2019 and 2022. Back in 2019 she took part for the first time with a close friend of hers. In 2022 she walked the route on her own, however as said this time she will be walking with her boyfriend in memory of her grandparents. 

On doing the walk again, Amelia said: "I did the walk in 2019 with a close friend of mine. Her mum does quite a lot of fundraising things anyway and asked if I'd do it with her so I said yes. In 2022 I did the walk on my own. 

"I just really enjoyed doing it. it's nice because you can remember your loved ones whilst raising money to help a charity I clearly think a lot about. It was quite an emotional time, I remember we walked past The Kirkwood building in Dalton and I was able to write a lovely message on a heart which was hung up which I thought was lovely. 

"The Kirkwood is a special charity, I just think it's amazing the care that you give to the people that really need it. I'm looking forward to doing the walk again this year."