Mum-of-two who lost her mother and grandmother to cancer raises funds for Beaumond House Community Hospice

A woman who lost her mum and grandmother to cancer raised more than £1,000 for a hospice that supported them with an emotional Facebook video that melted hearts.

Mum-of-two Zoe Picker lost her own mother Tracey Edlin in January and grandmother Margaret Edlin on Christmas Eve.

Both were helped by Beaumond House, Tracey with the hospice's care at home service and Margaret who died there peacefully surrounded by family and staff as an inpatient.

"I wanted to put a video on Facebook telling our story," said Zoe, from Balderton, who describes hospice staff in her video as lovely and always there for her and her family at the drop of a hat.

"Mum was diagnosed in October and died in January, so it was very fast.

"Dad (Jon Edlin) lost his mum and his wife and I can't be with him because of coronavirus and it's devastating.

"I decided to be brutally honest.

"It was daunting.

"I wasn't going to post it. It took all day for me to do that because it was so difficult and so personal."

However, when Zoe finally plucked up the courage to post the video to Facebook, using the Beaumond House hashtag campaign #fillthegapBH she raised £900 in 24 hours, the tally now having risen to £1,300.

"It was emotional, it was tearful," she said.

"I wanted people to know just how much Beaumond House had helped my family.

"I hoped it might encourage people to donate.

"It seems to have struck a chord with people."

People commented on Zoe's bravery and said she was strong. A number of those who made financial pledges had been helped by Beaumond House themselves in the past.

One person described her as inspirational.

The video has been seen 3,200 times, has 84 shares and attracted 97 comments. There were 91 donations in all.

It can be seen on Beaumond House's Facebook page.

"I was hoping that something good could come from something so bad," she said.

Zoe, who gave up her job as a nursery nurse to be her mother's full-time carer, has raised money for Beaumond House in the past as it helped her husband's grandfather, raising £2,500 from medium and fashion shows.

She also raised £1,000 to transform her mum's living room while she was poorly in hospital.

"Sadly she didn't have long to enjoy it, but I know it made the world to her," Zoe said.

"Mum was funny, loving and caring and honest.

"She was only 55 when she went.

"She was a brilliant mum, grandmother and wife - very family-orientated.

Her brother Zak Edlin raised £600 through singing on Facebook to a live audience.

He has an event planned involving former professional footballers.