Josh’s Challenge: The Great North Run for Treetops Hospice

After the death of his nanna, Josh Derbyshire’s grandad and mum found comfort and connection at Treetops Hospice’s Wellbeing Café.

By attending the weekly sessions, they were able to talk to others experiencing bereavement and build new friendships during a difficult time.

Josh fondly remembers his nanna as a “quiet lady” and treasures the times she cared for him: “I remember being at her house watching The Lion King 2 when I was off sick from school. Every time I see it now, it still reminds me of her.”

Inspired by the support his family received, Josh decided to give back by taking on the Great North Run for Treetops. He said: “My grandad had a really tough time after my nanna passed away.

“While we were always there for him as a family, it was such a relief knowing he had somewhere to go, where he could be around people who truly understood and could help him cope with the loss.”

Despite having just over a year of running experience, Josh proudly completed the world’s largest half-marathon in September 2025. He crossed the finish line in two hours and 37 minutes, raising nearly £400.

His fundraising will help Treetops provide specialist nursing care for patients in their own homes, as well as support the continuation of the Wellbeing Café and other bereavement services for families like Josh’s.

He added: “The main reason I ran the Great North Run for Treetops is because of how much they helped my grandad. It gave him a way to get out and socialise after losing my nanna.

“It also gave me real purpose – people had donated for a brilliant cause, and I was determined not to let them down. From the very first moment, the support I received from Treetops was constant and made the whole journey worthwhile.

“I wanted to raise as much as possible so Treetops can continue helping others, while also giving myself a challenge.”

Thanks to supporters like Josh, who take on challenges in aid of the hospice, the Treetops nursing team were able to support 2,119 patients, with over 34,000 hours of end-of-life care delivered last year. The bereavement counselling team provided more than 5,000 hours of sessions – including over 1,500 for children and young people.

To find out how you can support Treetops Hospice as one of our Challenge Champions, visit: https://www.treetopshospice.org.uk/get-involved/fundraising-with-treetops/events-and-challenges/