A FAMILY who raised nearly £7,000 for St Luke’s Hospice are urging others to help support the ‘sensitive and caring’ service the charity provides.

Several generations of the Raghwani, Vekaria and Patel families, from Kenton and Edgware, wore customised pink

T-shirts during the nine-mile Midnight Walk around Harrow in memory of grandmother Kasturben Karsan Vekaria, who died of a brain tumour aged 62 in September last year, just four months after diagnosis.

Granddaughter Sunayna Raghwani, 11, of Elmsleigh Avenue, Kenton, said:"Nani spent a while in hospital and then luckily spent a month at home. We were really glad to have this time to spend with her.

“We were very lucky to have St Luke’s Hospice help us when Nani came home. The carers were very supportive and they gave a very professional and caring service and were always at hand to help Nani and our family, by giving advice and support and generally being sensitive and caring.”

Sunayna, who attends The Priestmead Primary School in Hartford Avenue, Kenton, and whose 10-year-old sister Nikita was the youngest finisher at the annual walk on June 18, said:"Nani was always raising money for worthy causes – she did a walk from Kenton Mandir for the hospice – and we all felt we should carry on in her name.

“We aim to do the midnight walk every year in memory of my Nani and to help make sure that St Luke’s can continue to help others like they helped us.”

The late Mrs Vekaria urged her family to participate in last year’s Midnight Walk but her falling ill prevented them doing so, which made her 11 descendants even more determined this year. They have raised £6,975 so far.

Sunayna’s aunt, Bala Vekaria, 33, of Kenton Road, Kenton, said:"Many people rely hugely on support from St Luke’s Hospice and donations are needed so that St Luke’s Hospice can continue to provide the high level of invaluable support and care to all those who need it.

“The last month of mum’s life was very difficult for all of us and the support and advice we got from them helped us through a tough time.”

St Luke’s Hospice aims to raise £250,000 over the next 11 months, which would pay for 10 nurses, to expand its Hospice At Home service to allow more people to die comfortably and as little pain as possible, in their home.

The Observer is asking readers to help find £25,000 of that total through our Showing We Care campaign.