A MUM and her young family are fundraising for a hospice to say “thank you” for the amazing care she has received since being diagnosed with incurable cancer.

Alexandra Harvey, 43, and her husband Jeremy, who live in Leigh, abseiled down the AccelorMittal Orbit in Stratford, London, in the latest bid to raise money for Havens Hospices.

The family, including ten-year old Matea and eight-year old Dasia, have been big supporters of the charity, holding fundraiser coffee mornings and other activities.

The children enjoy fundraising and have found their own unique ways to raise cash from selling waffles to friends and neighbours and even asking guests at parties to donate – Dasia even did it at her parents’ recent vow renewal ceremony.

In May 2018, Alexandra was diagnosed with bowel cancer and although she underwent major surgery to remove a section of her bowel, as well as chemotherapy, the cancer spread to her lungs and the family were told it was incurable.

The family began using the hospice’s services in January.

They have been involved in the charity’s wellbeing services, including complementary therapy for Alexandra and counselling for Jeremy and the girls.

Jeremy, 47, said: “After we got the prognosis, we both decided that we were going to make the most of things and make the most out of every moment we can, as we know we have very little time left.

“As well as making sure we travelled to as many new places as we could with our girls, we also wanted to take on as many challenges together and push ourselves out of our comfort zones.

“Alex is scared of heights; she couldn’t even make it beyond the first platform of the Eiffel Tower; so, when she saw the challenge, she knew she wanted to do it and of course I was never going to let her do it alone.

“I’ve done an abseil before, but obviously Alex hasn’t – so I was never letting her go on her own. All our friends thought she was mad to sign up even though we all knew she’ll conquer – because when Alex puts her mind to something she achieves it!”

The father said one of the main reasons behind the challenge was to create new memories for them and their daughters, Matea and Dasia, who raced their parents down the structure by taking on the Orbital Slide.

The couple took part in the abseil to raise funds for a new Fair Havens hospice.

The charity is just under £350,000 away from hitting its fundraising target needed to complete the 16-bed hospice opposite Priory Park, Southend. To donate to sponsor the family see justgiving.com/fundraising/theharvey4