Keira makes final wishes come true

After losing her father aged 4, teenager sets up charity to help families at hospice realise their loved ones' bucket-list dreams

- NEAL KEELING

KEIRA Arnold was just four years old when her dad died of stomach cancer.

But, a decade later, thanks to her his memory shines brightly. In his name she has raised £47,000 for the hospice which cared for him in his final days.

She set up 'Keira's Wishes, which has helped many suffering from terminal illness at Dr Kershaw's Hospice in Oldham fulfil their final wishes.

Her dad, Stephen, died aged 28, on September 18th 2014, but the care he was given at the hospice inspired her to help them.

One patient, Pamela Crompton, asked if she could go to Blackpool one last time, so Keira's Wishes provided funds for the hospice to hire a private ambulance and two nurses for her to travel there, and the RNLI helped to get Pamela across the sand to the water. Pamela died shortly after, having had her final wish granted.

Keira's Wishes have also enabled another patient, Mark Davies, to get married at the end of his life. He was able to wed his fiancee, Donna in a ceremony at the hospice. He died a month later.

Keira's funds have even given patients the chance to just enjoy their favourite tipple or a chippy tea.

She also used some of her funds to buy smart TVs for each of the 12 patient beds in the new In-Patient Unit, and deliver Christmas presents to patients during the pandemic.