收到我去世好友Delia Davin教授（中國婦女研究專家，享年73歲）的先生Owen的來信。有三件讓我非常感動的事要與大家分享。英國慈善機構因有上百年的歷史，故其成熟度，是全世界最高的。
一，英國有「照顧者慈善機構」會給照顧者一筆小獎助，規定只能用在照顧者身上。這真是非常好的設計。
二，70歲的照顧者Owen，是一位游泳老手，決定用此筆獎助重新學習自由式，目標是在75歲參加英國湖區的長泳活動（有2，5，10公里）
三，在英國很多人藉由自己參加某項運動活動，請朋友捐助自己支持的慈善機構。Owen選擇的是在Delia 癌症末期照顧她的「安寧療護」機構。這機構的護理人員在Delia生前定期去看她，給止痛藥，讓她可以在家中平和地去世。這是非常好紀念Delia的方式。
二，70歲的照顧者Owen，是一位游泳老手，決定用此筆獎助重新學習自由式，目標是在75歲參加英國湖區的長泳活動（有2，5，10公里）
三，在英國很多人藉由自己參加某項運動活動，請朋友捐助自己支持的慈善機構。Owen選擇的是在Delia 癌症末期照顧她的「安寧療護」機構。這機構的護理人員在Delia生前定期去看她，給止痛藥，讓她可以在家中平和地去世。這是非常好紀念Delia的方式。
我就點上網，捐款30英鎊，我可以看到是目前11位捐款者中最高的金額。這說明大家都是小額捐款，那麼每個人就可以捐給很多慈善機構了，雨露分沾。發現英國政府還有額外多給慈善機構免稅25%的機制。在此學習到了慈善事業國家制度的一課。台灣有很多善心人士，但還沒有這樣細緻的捐款機制的設計。
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Swimming the Great North Swim in memory of Delia
Dear Friends
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Swimming the Great North Swim in memory of Delia
Dear Friends
During the dark days, when my wife Delia was dying, I was offered a small grant by a carer’s charity on condition that I spent it on myself.
I decided to use it to pay for swimming lessons.
I have swum all my life, but because I had never had a formal swimming lesson, this meant I swam with a slow and rather inefficient breast stoke.
I decided that I wanted to learn the crawl, and as a goal, I decided that my aim should be to do the Great North Swim, in Windermere, by the time I was 75.
My first lesson was a year ago. I could not manage one length of the swimming pool doing the crawl. Now, a year later, I normally do about 40 lengths or more every lesson.
So, this June I shall be doing the Great North Swim in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support and in memory of Delia, remembering the help and support that she received from palliative care nurses that enabled her to die at home as she wished.
And to make that remembering a little more concrete, I hope that friends may like to sponsor me, as I swim, by giving something on my Just Giving page.
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