Noreen Raleigh, 65 from Exeter, has been a volunteer Care Navigator for two years and it all started when she and husband Peter were supported by Hospiscare.
Noreen says, “We were lucky enough to be helped by this wonderful charity. While Peter was ill I saw that a terminal diagnosis is difficult enough when you’ve got a partner, imagine if someone was going through it by themselves. I remember thinking at the time, if I can support others through this process then that’s what I want to do.
“Around a year after Peter died I started volunteering as a Hospiscare Care...
The 2018 Hospiscare Breakfast Run took place in perfect autumn weather at Knightshayes Court, attracting more than 300 participants who are on track to raise over £10,000.
The Run was a real family affair, with more groups of multiple generations than ever before, among them Jim and his family. Jim, who completed the longer, 10-kilometre route was taking part in his first-ever charity run - at the age of 81.
Among those keenly anticipating the event were Sabrina Eastley and Caroline, the community nurse who cared for Sabrina’s husband James. Sabrina and Caroline formed a...
Hospiscare celebrates the theme of Hospice Care Week 2018, Heart My Hospice, by welcoming its third group of Heart2Heart participants at Searle House this October.
Earlier this year Hospiscare collaborated with Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust to provide the much needed fortnightly Heart2Heart sessions.
At the sessions patients and their carers learn about managing symptoms and the ups and downs of heart failure with the guidance of professionals like Kate Hetherington, an RD&E Heart Failure Specialist Nurse. Kate says: “The sessions have been hugely helpful...
Lilian, 80 years old from Axminster, volunteers as treasurer of her local support group, helps fundraise in the local community, and has volunteered in the Axminster Hospiscare shop for over 22 years.
Shop manager, Anna says, “Lilian is very modest. She does so much to help in the shop but acts like it’s nothing. She often looks after the whole shop when we are short staffed and even pops in when she is out doing her shopping to check if we need any help. To me she is completely irreplaceable.”
“I volunteer my time in the shop 2 days a week and usually a little bit extra in...
The Breakfast Run on 30 September will be a family affair for Sabrina Eastley, who is taking part with her children, Jack, age 14, Joby, 13, Harvey, 9, and Ruby, 8, and her Mum, Jackie.
They are raising funds in memory of husband and father James, who died at home in the care of Hospiscare in March this year.
James and Sabrina had been together since early 2003, when they worked together at a sweet factory in Tiverton. Theirs was a whirlwind romance and before the year was out their first baby, Jack, arrived. He was swiftly followed by Joby and, after a 3-year gap, by...
Hospiscare’s annual Coffee Morning event is about to get under way. Throughout the area, people are signing up to raise funds for the local charity by holding coffee mornings in their homes, community halls and even their local parks. Businesses, too, are getting ready to brew up for Hospiscare.
Popular local celebrity Judy Spiers and her faithful companion Gus Honeybun, will once again be joining in the fun and popping in to visit coffee mornings during the event, which runs throughout September.
Last September, Hospiscare supporters held more than 100 coffee mornings,...
If you were to pop into any Hospiscare shop now, you will be met by a new addition the team. Kim, in cardboard cut-out form, is updated each week with a new number - the hours of Hospiscare Community Nurse Specialist visits that are funded by the Weekly Prize Draw tickets sold in Hospiscare shops.
The real Kim Thomas is an Assistant Practitioner and familiar face at the Day Hospice at Searle House. Chris Routley, the Lottery Manager, says: “It was important to me that we showed a real Hospiscare care provider and not just a stock image, so I am delighted Kim has allowed us to use...
Sally Payne, 43 from Exeter, has been on an unwanted roller coaster ride since 2013. Whilst working in London as a nanny, Sally discovered she had breast cancer. At the time she was only 38. Despite surgeries, chemo and radiotherapy, Sally now has secondary cancer. Local charity Hospiscare is supporting her in managing her illness whilst she continues to do the job she loves.
Sally shares her story.
“I felt fine. Not unwell at all. I was working in London as a nanny, loving life.
“I was getting out of the bath one day when I noticed a dent in one of my breasts. I...
When Stella Ford’s husband, Alfred, was diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), an illness which leaves a patient increasingly breathless, Stella was adamant she wanted to care for Alfred at home. Stella, 78 from Honiton, didn’t realise that help was available from local charity Hospiscare, who support people in Exeter, Mid and East Devon. Stella thought hospices were only for cancer patients and places where you went to die. However, Hospiscare supports patients from the onset of a life-limiting condition, providing support at home at the end of life and caring for...
