A daring Dougie Mac supporter has completed a gruelling African adventure to raise vital funds for the hospice after they cared for two members of his family.
Jordan Darlington, from Maybank, scaled the highest peak in North Africa by reaching the summit of Mount Toubkal in the Atlas Mountains, Morocco. He raised an astonishing £3,434.71.
The 26-year-old – together with friend Harry Bailey – decided to take on the challenge after Dougie Mac cared for his grandad, John and stepmum, Tracy.
Jordan said: “As a family, we have always been supportive of Dougie Mac – a few years ago the girls in the family completed the Moonlight Walk and raised funds. My grandad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and spent some time in the hospice before he died and I spent a lot of time with him, so we have seen first hand the wonderful care the hospice gives.
“My stepmum was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago and despite being given just a short time to live she managed to fight it and battled on which enabled her to see my stepsister get married and the birth of her grandson.
“She received care at home from Dougie Mac and the nurses gave the family all the support we needed until the very end. When my grandad died it was quick, whereas when my stepmum died it was slower – but there was absolutely no difference in the care they both received. Dougie Mac helped massively which felt like a cushion of support to the whole family.
“The care for both my grandad and my stepmum was as personal as you could get. Whether it was for my grandad or my stepmum, at the end of their life, the care was second to none. From my dad’s point of view, when the nurses were caring for my stepmum, they took a huge weight off his shoulders so he could just focus on being with her.
“As a family, we could spend time with our loved ones as we could trust Dougie Mac. It was like having friends rather than carers.”
Following the death of Jordan’s stepmum, his stepsister – Sophie – arranged a ball as a celebration of her mum’s life. The event raised a massive £10,000 for the hospice.
“My stepmum passed away in 2023 on January 11 which is my birthday,” says Jordan. “I thought it would be nice to do something to honour her memory and so myself and Harry decided to climb Mount Toubkal. We set out from basecamp at 4am to reach the summit just in time for the sunrise. I have to admit, it was very emotional and both myself and Harry shed a few tears at the top.
“It was a wonderful experience. It was really peaceful at the top, amazing, but it was also -18 so we didn’t stay there for too long!”
