A 79-year-old from Henley has shared how a palliative care charity helped her to continue her love for rowing while caring for her husband.

Mary Bromilow's husband, David, received palliative care from the Sue Ryder Palliative Care Hub South Oxfordshire after being diagnosed with bladder cancer.

He died on February 15, 2023, but throughout his final months, the support from the charity meant Mrs Bromilow could maintain her physical and mental wellbeing by continuing to row.

She said: "I started rowing at 65 as a bit of a joke, but it turned out to be something I love doing and it was my saving grace just to be able to go out for a couple of hours in the morning when you can’t think about anything else except the rowing.

"David was a lovely man, and I was so lucky to be married to him for 54 years. He was always such a huge supporter of my rowing.

"I have people I train with, and I have also started supporting with the coaching at City of Oxford which gets me out and about at weekends which can be a lonely time.

"I count myself to be very fortunate to have my family and friends and my rowing. It doesn’t bring David back but I’m very lucky."

The support from Sue Ryder began early in Mr Bromilow's diagnosis after the charity was recommended to Mrs Bromilow by somebody she knew.

She said contacting the charity at an early stage was "absolutely the right thing to do".

"Initially, a Sue Ryder nurse came to see us at home. She looked at the house and we had a chat and she said I will be in touch in a few weeks," Mrs Bromilow continued.

"Soon we were speaking to her every three weeks and then every two weeks and gradually the care and support increased as David’s needs increased."

As Mr Bromilow’s condition progressed, Sue Ryder nurses came more frequently, allowing Mrs Bromilow to continue her rowing routine.

She added: "They were absolutely brilliant because they also were able to provide care early in the mornings which I know can’t have been easy for them as it’s a busy time.

"It meant I could continue to row which was invaluable to me.

"Firstly, because if I had had to give up at that point it would have been difficult for me to get back into it, but mainly because I just needed to be outside and have some time for myself.

"It was all so seamless which was wonderful, especially the way they just stepped in a bit more and then a bit more."