Granddaughter supports Dr Kershaw's' Rose to Remember campaign in memory of beloved grandad

A brave little girl is supporting Dr Kershaw’s Hospice’s Rose to Remember campaign in memory of her beloved grandad.

Pippa Johnson, aged seven, is backing the fundraising drive after the hospice cared for her step-grandfather, Wade Stevens, last spring. 

Rose to Remember invites people to celebrate and honour their loved ones with a beautifully handcrafted metal rose. 

Each £20 rose helps to fund vital hospice care at Dr Kershaw’s and features a named dedication and personalised message. 

The roses can be collected from the hospice’s reception, posted out for £7.50, or displayed and collected at the upcoming Rose to Remember event. 

This will be held in Dr Kershaw’s’ newly transformed gardens from 11.30am to 2pm on Sunday, June 28. 

In 2025, the campaign raised over £15,000 for palliative and end-of-life care across Oldham and beyond. 

The colour of this year’s rose – lilac – represents nostalgia, love and the rejuvenation of springtime (pictured below). 

It also happens to be the favourite shade of young Pippa, who wanted to support the campaign after seeing the compassionate care provided by Dr Kershaw’s’ inpatient unit and Hospice at Home teams. 

Her mother, Laura Johnson, said: “Pippa is proud and excited to be able to dedicate a rose to her grandad in her favourite colour. 

“It is a very touching way to celebrate Wade, and being able to keep the rose and add it to our own garden is a really lovely memorial.” 

Pictured above: Pippa Johnson with her step-grandfather, Wade Stevens.

Wade began receiving support from Dr Kershaw’s Hospice after battling bowel cancer for several years. After a stay on the inpatient unit, he moved back home and was treated by the Hospice at Home team. 

Laura said: “The team treated him with such kindness and dignity in his own home, right until he passed. They took away the burden of Mum caring for him and gave him his wife back for those last few weeks. I know that meant a lot to him and it was a huge comfort.” 

The experience was particularly moving for Pippa, whose mother said she much-preferred the hospice to the “scary” hospital, and even said it was like visiting her grandad at a “nice hotel”. 

Pippa was also able to spend valuable time with the nurses and healthcare assistants, who joked with her and brought books and activities to help process grief. 

Laura said: “People should support Rose to Remember because every single rose purchased can contribute towards giving families like ours the same care that we received. 

“The support was so important and really helped us to navigate such a horrible time. It gave us precious time that we would not have had otherwise.” 

Roses are available to order online, via telephone or at Dr Kershaw’s Hospice. There is also the option to book in advance for afternoon tea, provided by the hospice’s in-house Café K. 

Donations of £30 or more will also receive a special Rose to Remember badge. To order your rose or find out more, visit www.drkh.org.uk/rosetoremember.