Award winning dancer turns top fundraiser for St Wilfrid’s

Here at St Wilfrid’s, we’re used to meeting people who show incredible grit and determination at the most difficult time of their life.

One such gentleman is Reg Coomber, who is currently receiving end of life care from the hospice. Despite his advanced cancer diagnosis, he has inspired us all by completing a sponsored swim and raising an incredible £27,000 and counting. The money will be shared between St Wilfrid’s and the cancer team at Eastbourne District General Hospital, as a thank you for the help we’ve both given him.

Reg, who is one of our top fundraisers for a sporting challenge, has always enjoyed keeping fit. “My first passion was middle distance and cross country running,” he said. “But eventually, years of pounding the road and track got the better of my knees and I had to stop. My physio suggested taking up dancing, but it took more than a year of gentle nagging until I gave in – but once I got going, there was no stopping me! I was soon competing in Latin and ballroom competitions around the country, and even won at Blackpool Grand Finals several times.”

After 10 years of dancing, Reg was diagnosed with cancer of the throat, and then a year later at the base of his skull, which was incurable. “To say I was devastated would be an understatement,” he said. That’s when Reg was referred to St Wilfrid’s.

“I have received excellent care from everyone at St Wilfrid’s, and it has helped with all aspects of pain relief and my mental health. Nothing is ever too much trouble, and everyone is so kind and patient. That’s why I chose the hospice as one of the charities to benefit from my sponsored swim,” Reg said.

The idea of the swim came from Reg’s friend Ciaran. “I told him I wanted to swim 10 lengths of the pool, and he said he’d sponsor me if I could do it. I ended up setting a target of raising £2,000, never thinking it would be such a success,” he said.

Despite his deteriorating health, Reg, 65, spent five months training for his major challenge. “My care teams are amazed that I managed it. I intended to swim 300 metres but pushed myself on the day to do 400 metres, which is 16 lengths of the pool.”

Reg’s Clinical Nurse Specialist, Olivia, has been visiting him at home every few weeks to help control his symptoms. “I think the swim challenge was absolutely phenomenal, and a testament to the person he is. Reg is the kindest, nicest, most positive person who shows such strength and determination. This swim just further shows what an amazing person he is, as does all the support and tributes that have been coming in,” Olivia said.

The final word must go to Reg: “This is obviously a very difficult time for me, but I wouldn’t have the energy or strength to keep fighting without the support of my brother and sister, friends, neighbours and the team at St Wilfrid’s, along with the gang at the DGH. Every one of them helps keep me determined to fight on until the end.”

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A four-day cycle challenge to Amsterdam has raised nearly £150,000 for St Wilfrid's Hospice and St Michael's Hospice in Hastings.
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