A FORMER Hospice at Home patient who died less than three weeks ago is to be honoured with a concert in aid of Driving Hospice Care.

Colin Stuart Ainsworth has inspired an event to raise money for 4x4s for nurses – and would have been ‘wholeheartedly’ in favour of it, according to his widow Sylvia Ainsworth, of Windermere.

“The treatment he received was amazing before he died. The nurses were so lovely,” she said, from her Oakthwaite Road home.

“Colin would have been very pleased that something like this was being done in his name.”

Mr Ainsworth died on September 16 after losing his fight against cancer of the oesophagus.

He underwent treatment last June and had begun to get better, with the couple taking a trip to see the Northern Lights in Norway earlier this year as part of their 50th wedding anniversary celebrations.

But a routine CT scan earlier this summer showed the disease had spread to his other organs.

He was treated in hospital but made the choice to return home to die last month. The Hospice at Home nurses tended to him for two days, giving him pain relief and offering support to Mrs Ainsworth.

He died on September 16, aged 71.

“It wouldn’t have been possible for him to have died at home if it wasn’t for the team of nurses,” continued Mrs Ainsworth, who is now determined to help the nurses get new cars.

“With living in Cumbria, there are times when we can’t get out and it would be terrible if the nurses couldn’t get to a patient.

“You’re relying on that support all the time. You can’t manage without them, it’s as simple as that.

“They really need these new vehicles.”

The memorial event for Mr Ainsworth will be held on October 26 at Windermere Social Club, New Road.

Anybody who wishes to help celebrate his life is invited and is asked to donate whatever they can to the fund.

To donate to the Westmorland Gazette’s Driving Hospice Care campaign send cheques made payable to Driving Hospice Care to Anna Clarke, The Westmorland Gazette, 1 Wainwright’s Yard, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 4DP. Cheques should be marked on the back ‘Driving Hospice Care’.

Please include your name, full postal address, telephone number and email address.