01/02/2026
You may recognise Carol Hanna, a long-standing and passionate supporter of LOROS, someone whose tireless fundraising has raised tens of thousands of pounds for the hospice. Since 2019, Carol’s dedication has inspired a whole community to come together, all driven by gratitude for the compassionate care LOROS gave her family at the most difficult of times.
Fast forward just over 5 years and Carol has hit an incredible £40,000 of fundraising! Carol’s goal was to reach this figure in line with LOROS’ 40th birthday and she succeeded! A huge thank you to Carol and all of her family and friends who have contributed to raising a fantastic amount of money for LOROS.
Here is Carol’s , in her own words.
“My name is Carol Hanna, and I’ve been raising money for LOROS Hospice since the summer of 2019, after they cared for my dear mum.
Mum was diagnosed with her fourth cancer in March 2019 – oesophageal cancer, one of the most aggressive. She deteriorated rapidly, losing over three stone in just a few months. In May, doctors told us as a family that we needed extra support, and Mum was admitted to LOROS.
From the moment we walked through the doors, everything changed. They took over with such compassion and care. Mum had her own room and bathroom, which was so important as she was registered blind and needed to learn her surroundings. Her room opened onto a beautiful garden, where on difficult days she could be wheeled outside in her bed, listening to the birds and breathing in the fresh air.
Within just two hours of being there, after speaking with the doctors, Mum was eating a bowl of soup. She hadn’t eaten or drunk properly for weeks. It was incredible – and from that moment on, we never looked back.
As a family, we were able to stay with Mum all day, from morning until night. My dad stayed constantly, and LOROS even provided his meals. When Mum was very poorly, they allowed him to stay overnight so he could comfort her. That meant more to him – and to all of us – than words can say.
We knew Mum wasn’t there to be cured, but to help us understand, accept and approach the end of life with dignity and positivity. LOROS supported not just Mum, but our whole family – especially my dear dad, who lost the love of his life after 66 years of marriage. He was with her right until the end.
Mum sadly passed away in July 2019, just 16 weeks after diagnosis. Watching someone you love suffer is heart breaking, but LOROS guided us, supported us and stood by us every step of the way.
LOROS is truly run by angels without wings. They gave my mum an extra two precious months of life, and for that we will be forever grateful. The doctors, nurses, volunteers, cleaners, catering staff, chaplains, hairdressers, massage therapists – and especially Pete, Mum’s guardian angel volunteer who checked on her daily – were simply amazing.
After Mum passed, my family wanted to give something back. My son-in-law Ryan completed a mud run, raising around £1,000. My daughter and Ryan did a cancer walk and raised another £1,000. We held a charity night at our local Indian restaurant and raised £1,200.
Then 2020 arrived. I had two more events planned… and then COVID hit. Everything was cancelled. I was devastated and kept thinking, what can I do to help LOROS?
One Sunday afternoon, I played around with some fabric and made a face mask. This was right at the start of the pandemic, before masks were even mandatory. I shared a photo with friends, asking if they’d buy one for £2 for LOROS. Everyone said yes – and the rest is history.
My masks travelled to Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Scotland, across Britain and all over Leicestershire. The donations kept growing into the thousands. I’m still sewing and fundraising today.
I couldn’t have done any of this without my amazing team. My husband Patrick posted masks daily and helped by cutting elastic and threading them ready for sewing; my daughter Charlotte, a primary school teacher, managed orders, messages and emails before and after school and sewed at weekends; my 90-year-old dad, my rock, came every day to help turn, cut and prepare masks; and a wonderful group of friends supported me with cutting, elastics and order picking. That’s what I call teamwork.
The support from customers was overwhelming. The generosity speaks volumes about how much LOROS means to people. I could sew for the rest of my life and never repay what they did for my mum.
Along the way, I was interviewed by the BBC, nominated for a Pride of Britain Award, and reached the final four out of thousands. I didn’t win – but to me, I already had, because of the money raised and the awareness created.
As life slowly returned to normal, I moved on from masks to crafts: peg bags, tote bags, lavender bags, Christmas items, felt flowers – and now knitting chocolate orange hats and sweet bags, which have been hugely popular at Christmas markets.
It’s hard to believe that this all started with one yellow mask. Today, Carol’s Crafters for LOROS is a community of sewers and knitters of all ages – bringing people together, reducing loneliness, sharing skills, and raising vital funds for a hospice that any of us may one day need.
I’ve also had the honour of being invited to LOROS for the Green Canopy tree planting for the Queen’s Jubilee and meeting the Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire – a truly special moment.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who has bought a mask, bag, chocolate orange hat or craft, donated money or materials, or supported me in any way. I’ve met wonderful people, heard heartbreaking and joyful stories, and made friends for life.
My mum is with me every day, driving me forward. She would be so proud.”
Carol’s Crafters are busy now creating lots of adorable Easter accessories – Easter chicks and rabbits! A huge thank you for your continued efforts. 💛
