Shellie Marshall signed up for our Sahara Trek after her sister, Chantelle, was cared for at the hospice. Chantelle was only 38 when she died, having spent a week on the Inpatient Unit. She had liver disease, and it was only two short months from diagnosis to dying. Shellie has kindly shared her story with us.

“They broke the mould when they made my little sister Chantelle. She’d walk into our Nan’s nursing home, demand the Alexa speaker play something upbeat, and get all the residents up dancing. They’d be listening to something relaxing when she walked in; by the time she left, they’d be dancing to a song called Superman by Black Lace. It was hilarious.

We were all devastated when Chantelle became ill in May. It didn’t stop her getting up to her usual tricks though, wearing fake tan so the doctors thought she looked healthier than she really was. But in a few short weeks she was admitted to hospital, and then in July she was transferred to St Wilfrid’s for palliative care.

I remember the day that Chantelle arrived at the hospice. We were blown away by how beautiful it was. The atmosphere was bright and welcoming, and it even smelt nice with diffusers everywhere. Chantelle was immediately comfortable, calm and more at ease than she had been in a long time.

Her room opened onto the gardens, where we all enjoyed watching the nature and wildlife passing by. She had robins, blue tits, woodpeckers and butterflies, and one day, she even had two little ducklings trying to make their way into her room.

The care that Chantelle received was incredible. The nurses are lovely, and everyone, even staff and volunteers in the cafe, are there for you when they see you getting emotional. Being at St Wilfrid’s made such a difference to our family, especially her two sons, Rio and Jaxon. Nothing was too much trouble. When they found out Chantelle liked honey and yoghurt, but there was none in the kitchen, they went straight over to Sainsbury’s to buy some.

Everyone made sure Chantelle was comfortable, checking on her regularly day and night. And St Wilfrid’s made us feel really supported as a family, while we went through the hardest time ever. Even after Chantelle died, we were offered counselling.

That’s why I want to do as much as much as I can for the hospice, to ensure they can continue to provide care and support for patients and families like mine in the future. So, I’ve signed up for their 50km trek across the Sahara Desert next year. It’s over four days in temperatures rising to 40 degrees.

My main motivator is to raise money, but it’s also giving me something to focus on in my grief. In a way, I feel like I’m taking Chantelle with me. She’s always in my heart and I’ll be thinking of her all along the way.”

If you’d like to find out more about the Sahara Trek, sign up to our no-obligation Information Evening on Tuesday 19^th November at 6pm at St Wilfrid’s Hospice:  https://www.stwhospice.org/event/sahara-trek-2025/

Photos show: Shellie, Chantelle, Rio and Jaxon