On a cold day a month before Christmas, Yvonne Rowe sat down to write a letter.

Yvonne, who worked as a gardener, made three copies and popped them in a post box – little realising she was planting the seeds of a fund-raising miracle.

Now, those three postage stamps and more than three years later, it has blossomed into a £160,000 phenomenon.

Yvonne, of Thornbury Rise, Darlington, had written to her local papers about the need for a hospice for the terminally ill in the town.

She had a friend suffering from cancer and was inspired by other hospices in England. Previous attempts to launch one in Darlington had come to nothing.

Appalling

Following publication she was swamped by more than 30 letters of support and a public meeting was held in February 1986, organised by the Council for Voluntary Services and chaired by Pam Exelby of the town’s community health council.

The weather conditions were appalling and many people abandoned their cars to walk to the meeting at the Dolphin Centre.

But the determination which got them there has continued to this day. A steering committee was organised and the concept of Darlington and District Hospice Movement was born.

Today the appeal has raised around £160,000, thanks to the generosity of all sections of the community.

Organisers, currently negotiating over council-owned land for a site to house the hospice, estimate the capital costs will add up to £350,000 with annual running costs of about £120,000.

The idea is to build a day-care centre, which will hopefully be open in a year’s time, with the eventual goal of converting it into a 10-bed residential hospice.

But the movement has an important third thrust – a sitting service with 25 volunteers offering relief to carers of the terminally ill in the home.

At present it just operates in the Darlington district but it is hoped to extend soon into Northallerton and Richmond.

In addition the appeal has bought four electronic ‘syringe drivers’, costing £400 each, which administer pain-killing drugs without the patient having to go into hospital.

Milestone

The movement has captured the imagination of Darlington people since its launch and was adopted as this year’s Mayor’s charity.

Half-way through 1987 an important psychological milestone was reached when a contest to design an appeal logo was won by art student Beverley Dowson.

The design, showing flowers at a church-style window, had a particular significance for hospice movement chairman Tony Morris.

Tony had attended the first public meeting at the Dolphin Centre as chairman of the North East branch of the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

His wife Joy was regional care adviser for the association but sadly developed cancer and died on New Year’s Day 1987.

Tony, 66, an art tutor and portrait painter living in Stapleton, remembers Joy when she was very ill asking to visit the Bristol Cancer Help Centre, which looks at holistic care: physical, spiritual and mental.

She went into the chapel and was asked whether she wanted to face the altar or the window.

Tony said: “Joy looked at this vase of flowers that was sat in the window and she said ‘Look at those. The window please’ and she sat down and it was the first time in weeks and weeks and weeks that we’d experienced sunshine.

“And that day the sun streamed through the windows of the centre and it was certainly coming into that chapel and illuminating the flowers showing these brilliant colours. And it was an impression that was fixed very firmly in my mind. I just went to the other side and just watched Joy just sitting there.”

“Then when I got together eventually all the logos, this one made me gasp and so I left it to the other two artists, who I’d asked to help me judge it, to make their decision first and unanimously they went for this one”

In Autumn 1987 the hospice appointed professional fundraiser Charles Dallas as a paid development officer. A secretary was employed and the office base shifted to Woodland Road.

A month later a major boost came in the shape of an £80,000 donation from the Carmelite Community in Nunnery Lane, which sold some surplus land giving part of the proceeds to the charity.

The hospice building appeal became the St Teresa’s Hospice Project and in February 1988 reached the half-way mark towards its original £250,000 target. In the same month Mother Teresa sent a message of support.

Last May a secret sponsor offered to provide the last £10,000 if organisers reach £240,000 by the end of this year.

More and more money was pouring in from everything from snooker marathons to flower festivals and sponsored parachute jumps.

Last October a giant fundraising “thermometer” was fixed outside the Dolphin Centre to guage the progress of the appeal.

The following month organisers took the major step of deciding to build its own hospice after months of searching in vain for suitable premises to convert.

An architect has been appointed and within the next few weeks Tony hopes to be able to reveal the hoped for site and display a model.

He said: “The public have been tremendously generous up to now. And I think the point is, now they’re saying to us ‘What is happening? Where’s our hospice?’. We want to be able to say ‘Here it is. This is the very beginnings of it.’’’

Mayor Heather Scott, who was on the original steering committee, said: ‘’As Mayor you do have the opportunity for extra publicity – so I thought well here was an ideal opportunity for me to help promote the hospice movement.’’

Tony added: ‘’The whole philosophy of the hospice movement is that you are going to help people live until they die and you will help them not only to die peacefully but to live right up to that last moment.’

Would you like to support the hospice in our 40th Anniversary Celebrations? Find out more about the events we have going on this year, including our Ruby Ball at Hardwick Hall, using the links below:

The post Hospice miracle set to bloom into action appeared first on St Teresa’s Hospice.

Sally and Glenn Pickersgill, who own Heritage Healthcare in Darlington, have announced they will be taking a break from fundraising after organising an annual charity golf day for St Teresa’s Hospice since 2002.

Nicola Myers, chief executive of St Teresa’s Hospice, led the tributes, saying: “Sally and Glenn are valued friends of our hospice, and we’ll never be able to thank them enough for everything they have done.”

“Now, after nearly 25 years of golf days, they have decided to step back and enjoy a well-deserved break from fundraising. They are handing over an incredible legacy for hospice care in our town.”

“The St Teresa’s Hospice golf day will continue, organised by our fundraising team – though I trust Sally and Glenn won’t mind us picking their brains occasionally!”

The business owners originally threw their support behind the hospice to help the charity open its bedded unit.

“We lost a close friend that year, and it made us think there should be something more in Darlington for local people facing the end of their lives,” said Sally.

“The closest end-of-life beds were in Stockton then, and we wanted to help Darlington families have a caring and loving place to go to in their own home town.”

Sally and Glenn backed the hospice’s 2002 Giving to Life bed appeal, which ultimately opened the charity’s first in-patient beds at its newly-acquired Woodland Road base.

Adrian Speir, owner of commercial property developer Landteam where Sally worked, suggested a small charity golf day in aid of the appeal and supported her to organise it.

The event quickly became a favourite with North East golfers, and in later years, Sally and Glenn took over organising it under the banner of their own company – with keen golfer Adrian always returning as a competitor and sponsor.

This year, the Heritage Healthcare Golf Day raised £17,416.50 for St Teresa’s Hospice, bringing the grand total raised since 2002 to £303,877. Jamie Cameron, from Forcett near Richmond, has played in every event since it was founded. He said: “I look forward to the hospice golf day every year. It’s a really fun event, and very well run.”

“It’s good fun, it’s good value, and the hospice makes loads of money each year!”

Sally added: “Without the continuing support from everyone that contributes – as players, sponsors, by donating prizes, or by pitching in – the event would never have grown to be so successful. I want to say a big thank you to everyone who helps make it such a special day.”

The post Golf day couple raised £300,000 for Darlington’s St Teresa’s Hospice appeared first on St Teresa’s Hospice.

The St Teresa’s Hospice Christmas Tree Collection will take place on Saturday, January 10, and Sunday, January 11.

Dozens of members of Darlington Rotary Club will collect around 2,000 Christmas trees from homes across the area, in return for a small donation to the town’s hospice.

Organiser David Hayward, from Darlington Rotary Club, said: “We have 70 volunteers and 20 large vans all ready to go.

“Everyone wins from this venture: we spare homeowners all the mess that disposing of their trees causes, the hospice gains much needed funds – and the trees are even recycled into sustainable green energy! Greenworx Ltd. recycle the trees into sustainable biomass fuel (Image: Darlington Rotary Club)

“Since we started this collection scheme 15 years ago, more than £120,000 has been raised for the hospice and we’ve collected around 16,000 trees.

“It’s a great thing that we’re proud to do for our town and for a vital local charity.”

• To register a Christmas tree for collection, visit www.darlingtonhospice.org.uk/CTC or call 01325 254321 before January 7.

Businesses across the town have pledged their support for the project.

Vans are being supplied by hire companies Enterprise and Charter, while Taylors Butchers is donating its café as a base of operations for the weekend.

Tree surgeons from Greenworx Ltd. have also stepped in again to recycle all trees collected into biomass fuel.

Hospice chief executive, Nicola Myers, said: “This is one of our major fundraising campaigns and we really appreciate the help of Rotary and the generosity of local residents.

“Every year we have to raise more than £2.5 million to continue offering much-needed care, and community partnerships like the one we enjoy with Darlington Rotary Club is vital to our ability to be there for thousands of people when they need it.”

Areas covered by the collection include Darlington and surrounding areas, including Newton Aycliffe, Heighington, Shildon, Hurworth, and Middleton St George.

The post Christmas Tree Collection returns to raise thousands appeared first on St Teresa’s Hospice.

Anna Bonner will be running for the third time in the St Teresa’s Hospice Festive Fun Run, raising money for the charity that supported her family when they needed it most.

She said: “I’ve always enjoyed running, but when my husband, Michael, became ill, I became a full-time carer and running had to take a backseat. But everything changed when Michael got a bed at St Teresa’s Hospice. He was genuinely thrilled – over the moon really – and I was relieved.”

Not only was Michael looked after, but Anna found solace and support in speaking with both the nursing team, and family support counsellor, Jennifer Smithson.

“Michael would talk with his nurse, Polly, about her plans to tackle the Great North Run, and together they would encourage me to take time for myself and run,” she said.

“When I was able to get out with my running club friends, it was a chance to breathe and have some time for me.“I think now it was Michael’s way of getting me used to having to do things now on my own, but they allowed me to be his wife again, and running again gave me a community.”

“I think now it was Michael’s way of getting me used to having to do things now on my own, but they allowed me to be his wife again, and running again gave me a community.”

She has taken part in the annual event twice since Michael passed away at the hospice, and has raised more than £1,300 in his memory by running laps of Darlington’s West Park dressed in her Christmas best.

Nicola Myers, chief executive of St Teresa’s Hospice, said: “Stories like Anna and Michael’s cut straight to the heart of why the hospice is here – to help local people when they need it the most.

“It’s because of people like Anna, who have seen first-hand the impact of our work and have become such incredible ambassadors for our charity, that St Teresa’s Hospice is able to carry on our important work.

“From all of us here, we want to say a big thank you Anna, and to everyone backing her.”

“The nurses at St Teresa’s just got Michael, they knew his personality,” Anna added.

“He wasn’t an easy patient, but they got his sense of humour, his love of Celtic Football Club, and he started to trust someone other than me to take care of him.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Anna has become a vocal supporter of hospice care, and encourages friends and family to join her in the run.

“I don’t mind what time I cross the finish line. My friends and I dress up, lace up our trainers, and come rain or shine, we line up at the start, because what I do care about is doing something incredible to raise funds for a charity I appreciate.”

SIGN UP FOR THE FESTIVE FUN RUN

The post St Teresa’s Hospice, Darlington’s Festive Fun Run returns appeared first on St Teresa’s Hospice.

Debbie Dobbs, Executive Director of Woodlands Hospital, said: “The current climate is immensely challenging for hospices right now, and when we asked the staff to choose our charity of the year, practically everybody wanted to support St Teresa’s. We’re so grateful to them for the incredible work they do, and to Circle Health Group for match funding what we raise for our local charities.”

The team also gave a special shout-out to Surgical Assistant Angela Clement – who posted the team’s fastest time – and Physiotherapy Assistant Mathew Bancroft, who didn’t originally intend to take part but stepped in when another Woodlands runner suffered an injury.

Victoria Raitt, Corporate Partnership Officer for St Teresa’s Hospice, said: “This is a wonderful gift to receive from the Woodlands Hospital team and Circle Health Group. The Great North Run is an iconic event, and the money raised by those who rise to its challenge has an outstanding impact on our hospice’s ability to deliver vital services to our communities. From all of us at St Teresa’s Hospice, thank you.”

As well as running the Great North Run, Woodlands Hospital staff have also raised money with Easter events, raffles, tombolas, and selling teddies in the hospital reception, with plans to carry on raising money through Christmas.

Mark Pinsent, Woodlands Hospital Sales and Marketing Manager, said: “This has been an incredible team effort – not just by those of us who ran, but across the wider staff team who have supported, sponsored, and encouraged us.“I thought I was retired from running, but visiting the hospice and seeing first-hand the amazing service they provide really got me back in the game, and I’m still running now.”

The post Woodlands Hospital staff raise thousands for St Teresa’s appeared first on St Teresa’s Hospice.

“This year marks 30 years since we lost my beautiful 18-year-old little sister Jeanette (Jinny) to bone cancer. It also marks 21 years since I beat thyroid cancer myself and took on my very first fundraising challenge: trekking the Inca Trail in Peru for Macmillan.”

“I’ll be lacing up my boots again and tackling that same gruelling trail, but this time, I’m doing it for St Teresa’s Hospice, whose work has touched so many lives here in our community. They provide free counselling, complementary therapies, and specialist end-of-life care to people facing cancer and other life-limiting illnesses — care that is only possible because of public support.”

Michelle’s connection with Macmillan remains as strong as ever, and she highlights the close partnership between the two charities:

“St Teresa’s doesn’t work in isolation. They have a strong and ongoing partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support, with Macmillan teams regularly referring patients and families to the hospice for help that goes far beyond medical treatment — emotional support, a listening ear, a moment of peace. So by raising money for St Teresa’s, I’ll also be supporting the wider Macmillan network that’s been at the heart of everything I’ve done since losing Jinny.”

“Jinny died within a year of diagnosis. She was just 18 and the bravest, most inspiring person I have ever known. Her battle with cancer changed my life forever and made me want to do something meaningful with my grief — to turn pain into purpose.”

“When I was diagnosed with cancer myself in 2003, it felt like life had come full circle. I had two young children, a family still reeling from the loss of Jinny and my Dad, and I was terrified. But with the support of Macmillan, and my family and friends, I got through it. I found strength I didn’t know I had — and ever since, I’ve been using that strength to help others.

“Over the years I’ve ran, hiked and cycled all over the world, always in memory of Jinny, and always with Macmillan in my heart. I was even awarded a British Empire Medal for my voluntary work — something I still can’t quite believe!”

Michelle’s fundraising target is £2,000, and every donation will help to provide free, expert, and compassionate care to local families when they need it most.

“Going back to the Inca Trail feels right. It feels like closing a circle — honouring the past, celebrating survival, and giving something back to our local community.” Michelle said. “Please help if you can — share, donate, or just send good vibes. It all means the world.”

You can support Michelle’s incredible journey and donate to her fundraising page here:
👉 www.justgiving.com/page/michellethompson

Are you fundraising for St Teresa’s Hospice? Let us know by contacting our Fundraising Team on 01325 254 321 or emailing fundraising@darlingtonhospice.org.uk.

The post Michelle Takes on the Inca Trail, 21 Years On in Memory of Her Sister and in Support of St Teresa’s Hospice appeared first on St Teresa’s Hospice.

At St Teresa’s Hospice, our staff and volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that our patients are comfortable and can live well in the time they have left.

However, hospice care is about so much more than managing symptoms. At St Teresa’s Hospice, we help our patients and their loved ones to spend time together doing the things that they love. Our wonderful staff and volunteers have helped patients to enjoy movie nights, sleepovers with their children, and Christmas dinners in the summer.

Funding hospice care: why your support matters.

It costs around £3.6 million a year to run our hospice, with a daily cost of care exceeding £9, 873*. Approximately one third of our total income for 2024-2025 came from the NHS, with the rest of our income coming from fundraising efforts.

With only a third of our income coming from the NHS, in order to continue providing all of our core services free of charge to patients, their families and carers, we rely heavily on the generous fundraising efforts of our local community. This is in the form of one-off and regular donations, gifts in Wills, fundraising events, the St Teresa’s Hospice Lottery and through purchases in our shops.

Together we can expand our reach, strengthen our services and ensure that St Teresa’s Hospice continues to be a welcoming and supportive space for all who need us. Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to the journey ahead as we build on our legacy of care and compassion.

*This figure is based on our 2023-2024 audit.

The post Led by the national charity Hospice UK, Hospice Care Week is about celebrating the work of hospices across the UK. appeared first on St Teresa’s Hospice.

Newly released data from Hospice UK reveals that almost 6,000 hospice nurses are paid for by legacy gifts in Wills per year across the UK. 

This comes as a coalition of 143 British hospices, led by Hospice UK, continues its landmark ‘This is Hospice Care’ campaign, highlighting the impact that hospices have on the people they help and their families. Building on momentum from its initial launch, they want to encourage more people to consider leaving a gift to their chosen hospice – joining thousands of others whose final wishes are helping to secure the future of Britain’s hospices.

Hospices are experiencing a surge in demand, which will continue to grow. With 90% of people who die in the UK potentially benefiting from palliative care¹, and around 130,000 more people expected to die annually by 2040 compared to 2023², funding from legacy donations is critical to maintaining current service levels. 

Worryingly, whilst legacy giving is growing across the charity sector, hospices’ share of the legacy market is declining. Despite over a third of the public (37%) saying that they’d like to donate to their local hospice in the future (peaking at 46% for Londoners), only 27% have considered gifting to a charity in their Will.

Despite 71% of the public believing hospices deserve more support, and over a third (37%) saying they’d like to donate to their local hospice in future, there remains a significant gap between intention and action. Against the backdrop of the cost-of-living crisis, with 50%feeling unable to donate to charity currently, legacy gifts offer an affordable way to create lasting impact without immediate financial pressure.

Many people still associate hospices solely with end-of-life care, unaware of the full spectrum of support they provide – from pain management and family counselling, to helping people with life-limiting conditions live as fully as possible. This campaign hopes to challenge these perceptions, by showcasing the true breadth of what hospice care really is, and inspire more people to consider donating to their chosen hospice in their Wills.

Leaving a gift in your Will is simple, and even a small gift can have a huge and lasting impact. Here’s how:

1. Pick a hospice: this could be a hospice that had an impact on you or a loved one’s life, or simply your local hospice 
2. Write your Will, and include your choice of hospice, along with their registered name, address and charity number. If you prefer, you can also contact a solicitor for help to make sure your wishes are respected.
   •  You can find a solicitor by visiting the Law Society’s website www.lawsociety.org.uk
3. Decide the type of gift – what or how much you leave in your Will is entirely your decision and you’ll also need to decide what type of gift you’d like to include. This is something your solicitor can also help you decide
4. Leave a legacy

Catherine Bosworth, Director of Income Generation and Grants at Hospice UK, says:

“Hospices are more than a place where people go to die. They provide choice, dignity, and help families create lasting memories. They make life’s most difficult moments less scary – but they can only do this with enough funding. With Government funding only covering around 40% of the care that hospices provide, charitable donations such as Gifts in Wills are absolutely crucial to making sure hospices can provide their dedicated, specialist care to everyone who needs it. We hope this campaign will encourage more people to recognise their chosen hospices for all that they do, and ensure they can be there for the next family who needs them.”

Get involved

Hospice UK is encouraging people to consider leaving a gift in their Will to support hospice care. Even a small legacy donation can make a significant difference in ensuring exceptional end-of-life support is delivered to those who need it most. 

For more information, you can visit the campaign website, search ‘hospice gift in Will’ today, or simply visit your local hospice.

To watch the ‘This is Hospice Care’ video, click here. 

To access the ‘This is Hospice Care’ campaign website, click here.

Real-life stories

How sixteen years of support inspired one grandmother to give back through her Will

When Karen and Scott were told their middle child wouldn’t live past his fifth birthday, they wanted to put Jake in a bubble and protect him. Jake had fucosidosis, a metabolic disorder so rare that only ten other children worldwide were living with it at the time of his diagnosis.

The family’s GP suggested they contact Shooting Star Children’s Hospices and over the next sixteen years the hospice transformed not just Jake’s life, but his entire family’s.

What they found wasn’t what they’d expected. “From the start, to be able to come somewhere all of us could stay, where Jake would have the best time and we could have a break with our other two sons – it felt like a holiday. The care team were so fantastic with Jake we didn’t have to worry about him.”

Jake died in February 2023, having far outlived initial predictions. When his grandparents received information about writing a Will for free, she saw an opportunity. “I thought it was such a special way to ensure more children continue to receive the wonderful care that Jake did, and using the charity’s free will writing service was such an easy process.”

How a dedicated team helped David and Bev celebrate 39 years of marriage

When 63-year-old David was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer, his world – and that of his wife, Bev – changed overnight. But it was the extraordinary lengths to which Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care went that made all the difference to him and his family. 

One particularly memorable example of the team’s dedication came during David and Bev’s 39th wedding anniversary celebrations. The couple wanted to mark the occasion but couldn’t stay away from home due to David’s medication schedule. Thanks to the team’s support – and a nurse arriving at dawn to administer his treatment – they were able to make it happen.

Bev said: “I want to make sure that other families can access this crucial support when they need it, now and in the future. […]I have decided to pledge a gift to Rennie Grove Peace in my Will to help the charity continue its vital work for generations to come.” 

If you are considering leaving a gift in your Will to St Teresa’s Hospice, please take a look at our Gifts in Wills page.

Sources:  ¹Marie Curie. How many people need palliative care? Updated estimates of palliative care need across the UK, 2017-2021. Data and evidence briefing. [Internet]. Marie Curie; 2023 [cited 2024 Apr 16]. 
²Based on data from: Office for National Statistics (ONS). National population projections: 2020-based interim [Internet]. 2022 Jan 12 [cited 2024 Apr 16], and Office for National Statistics (ONS). Vital statistics in the UK: births, deaths and marriages [Internet] 2023 Feb 24 [cited 2024 Apr 16]. )

The post Newly released research reveals nearly 6,000 UK hospice nurses funded entirely by gifts in Wills appeared first on St Teresa’s Hospice.

Thanks to the skills and cooperation of Paul Dyke from Cummins, Andrew Fisher from Fab Shop, and Keiran Bayley from Intake VHQ, the tin has been restored and given a new lease of life. It will continue raising vital funds for the hospice, which needs over £3 million each year to deliver its vital, specialist services.

Lisa Wilson, Head of Fundraising and Marketing at St Teresa’s Hospice, said:

“This is a wonderful example of what can be achieved when people in our community come together. Paul, Andrew and Keiran have given their time and expertise to help us in such a practical way, and we are so grateful. Hospice care depends on community support like this, and we need more people who are willing to step forward and make a difference each day. Perhaps you could host one of our tins in your business, volunteer as a collection tin coordinator or bring your unique skills to team St T’s – we’d love to hear from you.”

Keiran added:

“Intake were very happy to help wrap the giant tin for the hospice to support the great work that is being done there! Anything in giant or miniature form always gets a smile so this will stand out at events and be a conversation starter.”

Andrew commented:

“It has been a great pleasure to donate our services to help with your fundraising. The services you provide are truly outstanding.”

Collection tins, both big and small, play an important role in the hospice’s fundraising. While the giant tin is symbolic, the smaller tins in shops across the region collectively raise thousands of pounds each year.

St Teresa’s Hospice provides free, specialist care for adults and families living with life-limiting illnesses across Darlington, South Durham and North Yorkshire. Services include inpatient care, hospice at home, the wellbeing hub, complementary therapies, family and bereavement support, and more.

These services are all provided free of charge to anyone who needs them across Darlington, South Durham and North Yorkshire.

The hospice is calling on more businesses, groups and individuals to get involved however they can; whether that’s through fundraising, volunteering, or lending their skills and expertise, just like Paul, Andrew and Keiran did.

For more information on how to support St Teresa’s Hospice, visit www.darlingtonhospice.org.uk or contact hello@darlingtonhospice.org.uk.

The post Teamwork and Community Spirit Shine as Local Businesses Team Up to Refresh Giant Hospice Collection Tin appeared first on St Teresa’s Hospice.

When Nigel recently popped in to see us, he brought with him a lifetime of memories: thank-you letters, fundraising stories, and a memoir of his work with our Bereavement Team. We sat down with him and asked where it all began. “To celebrate my 40th birthday I organised a sponsored walk with a cousin and two policemen friends,” he recalled. “We raised £700 that day. I suppose that was the start of it all. My late Auntie Anne who planted the seed that I should organise a sponsored walk”

Walks turned into more walks, donation boxes multiplied, and, year after year, Nigel brought in thousands. Even the collection box in his own hallway has continued to collect £1000s over time.

There were personal reasons, too. Sadly, Nigel lost his first wife Liz, on Christmas night just nine days after the birth of their son. That profound loss led Nigel to join the hospice’s Bereavement Team, as a volunteer, offering the same comfort and compassion he had once needed himself. Sharing with us “I felt and still feel honoured, privileged and rewarded during my role as a companion sharing so much of someone’s life, hope, fears, laughter and sadness.”

Later, Nigel was asked to step into another important role; night security and porter at St Teresa’s. For six years, he kept quiet watch over the hospice, always ready with a listening ear or a beautiful act of kindness. “I remember one lady came in at 10pm,” he said. “She asked for a gin and tonic. So, I got her one, served it on a tray. She told me it was the best she’d ever had. She passed away just a couple of hours later.”

There was another woman too, one who asked to see him before she died, just to say goodbye. “I wished her a safe journey,” he said softly. “And then she was gone.”.

Even after his official retirement in 2010, Nigel has never stopped and was awarded Honorary Life Membership of St Teresa’s Hospice in 2015. Alongside wife Wendy there have been Elvis nights and bake sales, street fairs and sponsored runs. Wendy once baked a hundred cakes for the hospice and, for their ruby anniversary, they asked for donations instead of gifts, raising over £400.

Now, as we look ahead to 40 years of care, we’re reminded of the power of people like Yvonne and Nigel, of Wendy and Ann, and of everyday heroes like you, those whose unwavering kindness ensures St Teresa’s Hospice is there for the next family, the next patient, the next goodbye.

Because you care, we can.

The post Nigel’s Story appeared first on St Teresa’s Hospice.