Sarah’s story of compassionate care and remarkable fundraising
When Sarah Barlow’s dad, David Brindley, chose to spend his final chapter at home in Dawlish, he was surrounded by loved ones in a place where he felt at ease. With the gentle support of Rowcroft’s Community and Hospice at Home teams, David was able to remain comfortable, and his family had treasured time to create lasting memories together. In this blog and video, Sarah shares how Rowcroft’s compassionate care made all the difference during some of life’s most difficult moments. She also reveals how she took on the ultimate fundraising challenge of shaving off all her hair to raise funds for the hospice that had so expertly cared for her dad.
Supporting Sarah’s dad at home
“Dad was a fun-loving, deeply family-oriented person,” says Sarah. “He was happiest simply spending time with the people he loved.
“In 2018, he was diagnosed with lymphoma. He was incredibly brave and strong throughout it all. He spent five years receiving chemotherapy before he decided he no longer wanted to continue treatment. He had always been afraid of hospitals and never wanted to talk about death, but he let us know that he wanted to be cared for at home.
“At first, the Rowcroft team visited once a day to support Mum in caring for Dad. She had done everything herself until that point, but she was starting to struggle. Rowcroft stepped in to make life a bit easier for both of them. Mum and Dad were quite private people, so I think it says a lot about how kind and respectful the Rowcroft team were that they both felt so comfortable accepting their help at home.”
Care that brought comfort and connection
“The Hospice at Home team were an incredible support for Mum. They gave her someone to talk to outside of the family – people who understood both care and Dad’s illness. It meant so much to all of us that Dad was able to stay at home and be looked after. We visited often, and we’d laugh, joke, and spend meaningful time together. I don’t think we could have had that same relaxed atmosphere anywhere else. Every member of Rowcroft staff was professional, kind, and thoughtful. They understood how vulnerable it can feel to be cared for, and I think that eased some of the anxiety for both Mum and Dad.”
Compassion in the most difficult moments
“When Dad passed away, the Rowcroft team were amazing. They sat with Mum, talked to her, and made sure she didn’t feel alone. They were respectful and gentle, while still giving us space. They also helped with all the practical things – things we hadn’t even thought about, because Dad had never wanted to talk about death. They brought an amazing checklist and walked us through each step. At a time when everything felt surreal and overwhelming, they were so caring and helped us feel grounded.”
Sarah’s sponsored head shave for her dad and for Rowcroft
“I was a bit nervous in the lead up to my head shave, but the reason behind it – doing it for Dad, for myself, and to raise funds for Rowcroft – gave me the strength to push past the nerves. I’ve got naturally curly red hair, so everyone kept saying, ‘Oh, you can’t cut off your beautiful curls!’ But I was determined. It felt like a big deal, but it was absolutely worth it.
“Of course, times are tough right now – money’s tight for a lot of people – so I wasn’t sure how much I’d be able to raise. But every little bit helps. People were amazing and incredibly generous. Many of my colleagues told me they had relatives who had been cared for by Rowcroft, and they said it was an incredible place, so they wanted to sponsor me. I was touched by their generosity.”
Support that makes care possible
“I feel it’s so important for people to understand that Rowcroft receives only limited NHS funding. It takes a lot of fundraising to keep such an amazing service running. Rowcroft is a truly valuable part of our community. No matter how much people can give, even just a small amount, it makes a difference.”
More blogs from Rowcroft: