ebay shop
Anniversary Appeal for £500K
Autumn / Winter 2007
Artists impression of our proposed extension
In the late 1970's, a group of forward thinking members of the Wirral Medical and Business communities recognised that Wirral residents would benefit from a Hospice.
Fundraising started and in 1983, St John's Hospice welcomed its first patients. Between 1983 and 1995, 15 beds were provided in the old Wendy Ward and a Day Hospice was held in the old Peter Pan Ward.
The Hospice developed and in 1995 The Sunshine Appeal was launched to raise £1 million to fund a purpose built Hospice. The appeal was a great success and in 1997 the new Hospice with 16 beds was opened. Light Up A Life was launched in 1997 to celebrate the success of The Sunshine Appeal.
Late in 2006, all adult Hospices were invited by the Department of Health to bid for a share of £40M to improve the physical environment of Hospices as part of the DOH Dignity in Care for Older People for patients facing the end of life. A bid was submitted in December 2006 to enhance our Out-Patient and Day Care facilities in order to allow more people to benefit from the services offered by the Hospice.
In April 2007, we were delighted to hear that despite the total value of bids being £80 million, the bid submitted by St John's Hospice to the DOH was approved in full. £359,000 was granted to fund the building extension needed to put our plans into action. The bid was for capital expenditure only. This is a fantastic opportunity to enhance our existing facilities up to the high standards that St John's Hospice has been proud to deliver to patients and carers for 24 years. The Board of Directors is now finalising plans in preparation for applying for planning permission.
We are now fundraising for £500k to equip our new facilities and upgrade our existing ones. This is in addition to the £2.2 million we are fundraising for to run the Hospice this year. Please see page 4 about ways to get involved and help.
Fundraising: 0151 343 0778
Lottery: 0151 334 0348
Events: 0151 343 0808
The difference that St John's Hospice made to my Dad, Keith Alan Pugh, and our family...
Keith with son Jason and Joanne on a family holiday 2 months before he died
I remember my first thought when a nurse at the hospital suggested that my Dad was moved to St John's Hospice. I had a sinking feeling in my stomach, I really didn't know much about the Hospice. My Dad had always said they were places where people went to die and was very frightened at the thought of going.
My Dad was a very caring man who always looked on the bright side of life. He had a wonderful way of always looking for the positives in life and lived life to the full. He truly was the best Dad in the world. He touched the hearts of many people from all walks of life and was the type of man that was liked by everyone. I feel very privileged to have been blessed with such a special Dad. My Dad had fought cancer for 5 years. When he was unable to continue fighting in September last year my whole world fell apart.
I remember the Nurse saying "I really do think your Dad would benefit from having a chat with the Macmillan Nurse". She sat and chatted with my Dad and I.
She helped me to understand what was happening to my Dad. She did a fantastic job and I feel very fortunate to have had her as our Macmillan Nurse. She quickly realised that my Dad needed one-to-one care and referred him for a place at the Hospice. She explained to my Dad and I that it was a place to enable you to live, not to die. A few days later, we left the hospital in an ambulance and were
transferred to St John's Hospice.
When we arrived I knew instantly that it was a good place to be. Dad seemed to be a lot more relaxed, he felt like it was home from home. The Nurses and Doctors were excellent. They sat around Dad's bed, introduced themselves and asked Dad if he could give them an insight into his life story. They genuinely wanted to listen and get an idea of who my Dad was and how he was feeling.
This meant so much to me and my Dad. It gave us a great sense of happiness and enabled us to reflect on his life and have a good laugh at a very difficult time. I felt as if we were the most important people in the world as here we were chatting for over an hour with a Doctor and two Nurses who were fascinated by Dad's story.
Dad was told that if he wanted to go outside he could and if he wanted to eat or drink anything to just ask. The Nurses even asked if he would like a brandy, which he kindly accepted. He took the brandy outside with me and my brother Jason and sat by the water feature on the grass surrounded by all the lovely plants and trees. He sat playing a tune on his knee with two spoons and singing. He looked at me and said "This is a much better place than I thought it would be".
The care we received was excellent. I will never forget a lovely volunteer asking me what I would like for breakfast. I had so much choice and remember thinking I couldn't have had better service at a 5 star hotel. I was later asked if I would like a shower or spa bath to help me relax. All the staff were so caring. I was able to stay at my Dad's bedside 24 hours a day. I was even given my own bed. One night, I was awake in the early hours of the morning and a Nurse made me a drink of Horlicks and another Nurse just sat and talked to me. They genuinely cared about how I was feeling.
After my Dad died, I left the Hospice, it was a breathtaking starry night. I looked up and just felt so grateful that my Dad was cared for at St John's Hospice in the final days of his life. It gave our family the ability to allow my Dad to die with dignity in a very very special place.
I was also amazed at the aftercare that the Hospice provides such as the Counselling Service, the Remembrance Evening and Light Up A Life. I would like to thank all the people that make St John's Hospice such a special place and I am very grateful for the help and support it has given to me and my family at such a very difficult time. It really has made a big difference to us all.
How you can help?
There are as many ways to support our appeal as there are people reading this update!
There are lots of silver themed events planned! Our Silver Ball will take place on the 27th June 2008 at Thornton Hall Hotel and our special Anniversary Thanksgiving Church service on the 24th June which is the actual anniversary of the Hospice opening. For any one that wants to collect silver change for us we have some special collecting boxes available that we can post out. Consider joining our lottery, or taking out a second membership for our anniversary year – an application form is on page 6. If you would like to do something to help please call the fundraising office - phone 0151 343 0778.
Last year our silver star pins were a sell out and are still being proudly worn across the Wirral. As well as helping us raise over £16K the wearers showed that their thoughts were with the Hospice, the patients and their loved ones.
One lady commented it made her feel less alone seeing so many other people wearing the Hospice pin. This year we are introducing an anniversary pin in blue and silver. We have ordered more but still hope to sell out. They are once again £1 and are available across the Wirral.
Light up a Life
Following the disappointment of having to cancel last year's event we are now ready for this year.
This is an outdoor event and as such dependant on the weather. A number of options were considered but the event held in the Hospice grounds means so much to so many people we are continuing with our traditional event, weather permitting.
Thank you for all your support last year and for the many additional donations that came in following the cancellation which were much appreciated.
Light up a Life - Sunday 2 December
Gift Shop & Fundraising Stalls open at 3.00pm
Light Up a Life Service starts at 5.30pm
Volunteering with St John's Hospice
Wirral Volunteer of the Year 2007 Younger Person Category
Paul Hudson, Volunteer with St John's Hospice
8 hospice volunteers were nominated for Wirral Volunteer of the Year awards and we were delighted to see Paul receive his award from Chief Superintendent Colin Matthews, Merseyside Police at the Presentation Evening in June. Congratulations to Paul and all nominees!
Paul has been involved with the Hospice for just over three years after witnessing first hand the wonderful care and support the Hospice gives. He has carried out a number of activities from working in the Hospice Gift shop to envelope stuffing and mailshots, from marshalling at sponsored walks & horserides to actively participating in an abseil & Dragon Boat Racing.
In 2006 he set up a Schools Partnership Scheme to raise greater awareness of the Hospice amongst 6th formers, he tied this into a Fundraising Balloon Race which he researched, gained funding for and organised, raising over £600. Supporters of the Hospice may remember seeing him and his team of friends at the spectacular balloon release at the Summer Fair last year.
Volunteering with St John's Hospice can be fun, hard work and challenging but is always rewarding. We currently have around 380 volunteers registered with us carrying out a variety of tasks in the Hospice - from admin to nursing to gardening, from spiritual care to serving teas & meals and arranging flowers, from spending time with Day Care patients and art therapy to resourcing offices and busy Reception areas - and also out in the community with the Fundraising Teams, Charity Shops, Support Groups and Family Support network. We currently have morning and afternoon vacancies in the Hospice Gift Shop and Fundraising Office.
Volunteers at the Hospice really do make a difference, their gift of time enhances the care patients and their families receive. We always welcome applications to join the volunteering team whether you can commit to a regular weekly slot or are available for an occasional couple of hours.
Please ring or email today to find out more phone 334 2778 or email caroles@stjohnshospice.org
St John's Hospice Lottery - £1.5 million won so far!
Weekly Prize Money £3000 - Over £1.5 million spent on patient care - 54 Prizes drawn every week.
- You can have as many memberships as you wish
- only £1 per week to pay per membership
- No need to claim – prizes will be posted to you automatically
In July, we celebrated our 500th draw when the 500th lucky person won £2000. The first draw took place nine years ago when 2277 members paid £1 to enter, since then our numbers have grown and we now have around 9500 members in the Draw each week Ð but we still need more, so why join us today. Simply fill in the coupon below and return it to us we will then send you a Rufus pup free.
Alternatively you can phone 0151 334 0348 and join over the phone by credit or debit card.
Thank you...
We were all smiles when Abigail, Max Thomas and Eva came in to the office with the money they raised organising a garden party inspired by Auntie Quineth. 3 days were spent preparing posters, games and making cakes. Eva says' We really enjoyed this event, we are always happy to help because you helped our Gran.' Truly putting FUN into fundraising!
Thank you to all the Tunnel Runners. Pictured is Philip Barlow who ran with a team from theatres at Clatterbridge Hospital.
Jasmine and her mum Tammy raised £1000 for the Hospice holding a party. Pictured is Jasmine presenting the cheque to Lesley Woodhead, Fundraising and Marketing Manager.
Coastal Walk 2007 - thanks and well done to all our walkers and Rotary - we are still counting the money but we hope to raise £15,000.
LANZAROTE - May07 - Well Done and thank you Ricardo!
Finally, the challenge has been accomplished. Thank you very much for your support. My times for the
challenge are as follows:
- 3.8km swim = 1:04hrs, Transition 1 = 5mins
- 180km cycle = 6:14hrs, Transition 2 = 5mins
- 42.2km marathon run = 4:01hrs, Total time = 11:31hrs
Thank you to all our supporters. We would need 100's of pages to thank you all personally.
To everyone who remembers St John's Hospice in their wills.
Currently almost 7 out of 10 people in the UK population support charities but fewer than 1 in 20 remembers a charity in their will. Only 31% of adults have made a will. If you are thinking of making or changing your will, please consider leaving a gift to St John's Hospice. Legacy income plays an important part of our Fundraising Income.
Please telephone for a legacy leaflet if you would like more information.
Phone 0151 343 0778
Award for Hospice Gardens
St John's Hospice were delighted to win a "Bright Spot" of Wirral award for the Hospice gardens at the recent Wirral Investment Network Awards.
The gardens are maintained by a team of volunteer gardeners so this made the award even more special. They are enjoyed by patients, relatives and staff all year round and play a special part in our "Light Up a Life" celebrations.
Light Up a Life
Despite the disappointment of having to cancel the service due to extreme weather conditions LUAL 2006 still proved to be a record breaker in terms of income raised.
A total of £112,000 was raised compared to £90,000 in 2005.
This is in part due to many envelopes with money left after the cancellation became public news.
We had already decided to "open" for the books of remembrance to be viewed between 5 and 7pm each evening the week after the switch on.
This proved to be very popular and gave visitors the opportunity to look at the books of remembrance and to contemplate the meaning of the lights in a calm and contemplative atmosphere.
Light Up a Life 2007 – The Service takes place on Sunday 2 December and the books will remain on view each evening the following week.
The books remain on display in the chapel all year.
To Comfort Always…
An excerpt from the address made at The 23rd Anniversary Service
Glimpses of Heaven on Earth by Lady Grace Sheppard
“This time last year the invitation to speak at the 23rd Anniversary Service came while having a chat after the Anniversary service in the chapel. I was sitting in the Day Centre with Heather, the chaplain, a few months after my husband David had died. The invitation became an important part of moving on for me, and provided a key building block in helping me to learn from, and to reflect, on my experience.
Life is full of surprises and as Father Gerard Hughes said, 'God is in the Surprises'. These last few years have been no exception for me and I want to share some of those surprises with you and to look for God together in them. I firmly believe in life after death.
I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone at
St John's Hospice.
Thank you to all at St John's Hospice for the amazing quality of
care and comfort that both David and I received during his long illness.
Thank you to everyone who makes up this great team fighting for that Quality
of Life for both patients and carers and their families.
Thank you all for the hope and comfort you bring to countless people and for the glimpses of heaven on earth you bring to the suffering and the fearful.
Glimpses of Heaven on earth: What will this heaven
be like?
I do not know, but there are hints in the Bible; perfect love casts out
fear, we read; there will be no more tears of sorrow; no pain; no darkness;
much joy; we shall not be alone; the God of love and friendship will be
there; the Comforter and Counsellor; these are glimpses, that give us
hope and a looking forward, while at the same time enabling us to want
to bring heaven on earth here and now to one another. I think that we
can be sure that in heaven there will be perfect quality of life.
Some of these things were reflected to us at St John's Hospice; the eye to eye contact, as we arrive; that you call us by our names; the smile of welcome and sense of un-hurriedness, despite your own busyness; the way the bed was made; the re-assuring helping hand or offered arm; the ability to make us feel we were not just an NHS number but human beings with feelings; the careful explanation of procedures and treatments; your care over drugs; the gentleness in changing dressings; the watchfulness and the laughter.
Thank you for your ability to listen and to help us not to feel abandoned or alone and yes, thank you even for your tears!All this and much more, I have witnessed at St John's Hospice as both carer and patient. It begins to paint a picture of heaven as I believe it to be. A godly empathy does not desert or dominate. It is always just there, seeking to bring dignity and comfort, with sensitivity. It brings love without sentimentality, and good practice in all its forms. The Hospice Movement is showing us how to do this. So thank you.
3 months ago to-day I had another unwelcome surprise.
A malignant lump was removed and I became a cancer patient once again.
I have just completed 5 weeks of radiotherapy without any problems.
So I come to you to-day, fit and well, having been a patient and carer,
and having lived through a rather public bereavement.
I have one more thing to share with you. I have often heard professional people and volunteers witness to what they have learnt from their clients or patients. As a carer I pay tribute to my patient who gave me so much during his 4 years of living with cancer. As part of his legacy I want to pass on to you three words, or phrases, that he said towards the end of his life when he was finding it increasingly difficult to speak for long. He repeated them often, and with some real passion. I treasure them. They strengthen me now. I felt these words captured the essence of the man I knew and loved, and the positive spirit that we all hope to cultivate. I pass them on to you.
The three words were these: 'Thank you',
'I love you', and 'Yes'.
Thank you - Genuine gratitude never fails to bring hope.
Let's make it a habit.
I love you - Let us not wait to express our love till
someone has died. Now is the time. Love speaks of closeness and company,
and it goes on driving out fear; and Yes - a positive spirit helps those
wings to stretch again, strengthening our will to live and often against
the odds.
For life is full of surprises, welcome and unwelcome, and God is in those
surprises.”
A Gift in your Will
Currently almost 7 out of 10 people in the UK population support charities but fewer than 1 in 20 remembers a charity in their will. Only 31% of adults have made a will. What are the reasons for making a will?
- Ensure your personal wealth and possessions are distributed to the right people.
- Minimise anxiety amongst relatives and friends.
- No will can mean a delay in finalising affairs and extra costs in legal fees.
- To appoint guardians for children under 18.
- Appoint executors to carry out wishes.
- Help avoid inheritance tax.
- Indicate funeral wishes, such as gifts to be collected in memoriam at the funeral instead of flowers.
- Leave a gift to a charity.
If you are thinking of making or changing your will, please consider leaving a gift to St John's Hospice. Legacy income plays an important part of our Fundraising Income.
Please telephone for a legacy leaflet if you would like more information.
Phone 0151 343 0778
Volunteers are a vital part of St John's Hospice
Volunteers have been an integral part of St John's Hospice since it first opened its doors to the people of Wirral in June 1983. Several were in fact involved even earlier as part of the fundraising drive that was organised in 1980 to ensure that the dream of a Hospice became a reality.
Each week 372 volunteers contribute to running the Hospice. Many have had personal experience of having a loved one cared for at the Hospice and this is their way of saying thank you. Others have taken early retirement and some fit in volunteering with busy jobs and busy social lives.
Volunteers - of all ages and from all walks of life and backgrounds are welcomed, and are always needed, for the many different roles that exist within the Hospice and which vary from serving food and refreshments to patients and visitors, reception and administration work to gardening and fundraising, and lots more besides.
In addition to our shop at St John's, we have 3 more shops in Wallasey and New Brighton as well as a network of Support Groups that exist across the Wirral. Relevant skills and experience can be a real bonus, but the basic requirements are a commitment to the Hospice's purpose - which is…'to comfort always'.
Each year in June the Hospice holds it's Volunteers Evening, an opportunity for the Hospice to collectively thank its volunteers for all that they do for St John's in so many different ways, and the special dimension of care that many of them bring to their work with the patients that the Hospice cares for. Certificates are awarded for 5, 10, 15 and 20 years service, and in 2003, when the first 20 year certificates were awarded no less than 19 volunteers received a certificate - representing a fantastic 380 years service between them!
Anyone wanting more information or thinking about getting involved should contact Carole Snow at the Volunteers Service Department, for an initial informal chat, or an Application Form.
You can contact the department on 0151 334 2778.
St John's Hospice Lottery
Weekly Prize Money £3000 - 54 Prizes drawn every week
- Only £1 per week to pay
- Support your local Hospice, join our lottery today
- Give yourself a chance to win our weekly jackpot prize of £2000
- No weekly forms to fill in
- No need to claim – prizes will be posted to you automatically
- Joining couldn't be easier, simply call 0151 334 0348 and join over the phone by credit or debit card.