Help Give Steve & Jan the Break They Deserve

Hello, my name is Jules Hobbs Bott, and I am fundraising to pay for at least two weeks of respite care for my dad, Steve Hobbs.

In November 2022, Steve fell down the stairs in a freak accident. In that one moment, life changed forever. He sustained a severe spinal cord injury, leaving him almost completely paralysed from the neck down. He has very limited movement and is unable to do anything for himself without full assistance.

For those who knew me then, it was one of the hardest times of my life — especially as Steve just didn’t deserve something so tragic to happen. There were many touch-and-go moments, and despite everything, he pulled through every hurdle, every challenge, and every operation.

He spent over a year in hospital and rehabilitation before finally coming home in February 2023, where he has been cared for by his wife, Jan, ever since. This has been an act of deep commitment and love, but after 2.5 years of intense daily care — while also managing her own health challenges — Jan’s strength is fading and her own health is now suffering. There is simply not enough care provision for her to have a true break and recover.

A specialist care home with the LV Care Group — one Steve has used before and enjoyed — has been recommended for respite. The cost is £1,712 per week due to the high level of nursing care required.

My goal is to raise enough to give them at least two weeks of rest — time for Steve to be supported in safety and dignity, and for Jan to restore her energy and wellbeing. Ideally, we would love this to be up to four weeks, and we are exploring other sources of support to make this possible, but two weeks alone would make a huge difference.

Before his accident, Steve was a pillar of our local community, dedicating his entire career to mental health. Many in the Mental Wealth community will remember him from our early online and COA sessions, where he shared his warmth, knowledge, and wisdom alongside me. His resilience since the accident has been nothing short of inspiring.

One of the last things he said to me before his accident was, “we have plenty of time.” I remember it clearly — he said it as he hugged me goodbye. I’ll always treasure that moment, just as I treasure the memory of having him at my wedding, rolling down the aisle with me and my best man, Gary.

As a way of saying thank you and giving back, I’ll be dedicating the next couple of months to creating extra value for the Mental Wealth community. This will include special podcast episodes inspired by and dedicated to Steve, additional live classes, new videos, and exclusive handouts — all free to access on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/c/juleshobbs.

My hope is that if you enjoy this content, you’ll consider making a donation, knowing that every penny will go directly toward giving Steve and Jan the respite they need.

Your donation, no matter the size, will make a direct difference. Whether it’s the cost of a coffee, a takeaway, or more, you’ll be helping to give two people who have given so much to others the gift of rest, care, and peace of mind.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading, for caring, and for being part of this journey. Together, we can make this happen. ❤️

PS. Our location is still in the Isle of Man but this wasn't an available option (for the post code).