Month: August 2018

30 August 2018

Staff from a Worle school to join Weston Hospicecare’s Midnight Beach Walk

Members of staff from a Worle school will walk the women only event in memory of a colleague who was cared for by Weston Hospicecare before her death.

Andrea Davis works at St Mark’s Primary School in Worle in a pastoral role supporting families and students through difficult circumstances such as bereavement.

To mark her 50th birthday this year, Andrea decided to take part in the Midnight Beach Walk in memory of a colleague who was cared for by the hospice and suggested her colleagues join her.

She said: “My main motivation to take part came from a past beloved colleague and treasured friend from our school who unfortunately became ill and passed away several years ago.

“We used to attend the same zumba class and she always encouraged me to keep on exercising and finding new challenges.

“Every year since she passed away both my daughter, Summer Davis (aged 18), and I have completed a charity challenge. We have taken part in a range of events such as the hospice’s Mendip Challenge, to the 13-mile Bristol Half Marathon for the Children’s Hospice South West and the 26-mile London midnight moonwalk.

“I also decided to support Weston Hospicecare for my 50th birthday as I feel extremely lucky to have led a healthy lifestyle for myself, my family and many local families. Also, my own family have benefitted from the support and services of the hospice.

“Last year Summer joined the Royal Marines Band Service and is now often away from home so I decided to put a note up in the staff room to see if any colleagues would like to join me for the Midnight Beach Walk and I was very pleased to find 22 signatures to join me and represent St Mark’s Primary School.”

The hospice receives a fifth of its annual funding from the NHS so relies heavily on support from the community to continue delivering care to those with life-limiting illnesses.

For ladies wishing to join Andrea and hundreds of other women by taking part in the Midnight Beach Walk, please click here to our online registration page to sign up before 4 September.

23 August 2018

Amelia set for Weston Hospicecare Midnight Beach Walk in memory of grandmother

A Weston youngster and her mother will take on the Weston Hospicecare Midnight Beach Walk on Friday 7 September in memory of grandmother Margaret Mansell.

Margaret was a patient at Weston Hospicecare while being treated for lung cancer before she died on 29 April 2009 aged 55.

Amelia Tuppeny, aged nine, will participate with her mum Michelle Bustin in memory of their grandmother and mother nine years after they last took part.

Amelia was just nine months when her mother carried her around the course in 2009 and now as a nine-year-old she wants to support the hospice alongside her mother.

She said: “I wanted to do this walk with my mum in memory of my nan and help raise money for the hospice for the care they gave to my nan and support to my family.

“I am really looking forward to taking part in this event and hoping to raise £200 for the charity.

“I think it’s good that the hospice can let children like me get involved in this event and be able to raise money in memory of their loved ones.”

Before arriving at the hospice, Margaret took part in the Midnight Beach Walk in 2008, just one week after she was discharged from hospital.

Her daughter Michelle said: “My mum was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006. She was given the all clear a year later but sadly it returned which then went to secondary lung cancer.

“She was moved to the hospice and while in the hospice the staff were amazing with my mum as well as me and my family. The nurses would come in to my mum’s room and would take it in turn who looked after Amelia and they would take her down to the day patient unit so I could be with mum.

“Anything I wanted or needed they were there. On the Saturday night my mum had a small service in her room which the chaplain Karen did and christened my mum. We had already planned for Amelia’s christening in June but knew my mum wouldn’t be here so Karen suggested that Amelia had a small service with my mum.

“We then invited some of my mum’s family. Her brother Michael and his wife Gill, my mum’s sister Betty, My mum’s father George and friends Sarah, Val and Donna, myself and my ex-partner.

“Amelia wore the christening gown that my brother and I wore when we were both christened. The staff were all very supportive. My brother who lives in Bahrain was unable to return home to say goodbye to my mum due to work, but the hospice was able to bring the phone to my mum so she could speak to her son.

“This made my mum smile hearing his voice, he was telling her that he was going to see the formula one on the Sunday and how he was looking forward to this.

“On the Sunday my mum was making some noises and I wasn’t able to make out what she was doing, so called in one of the nurses to see if she could help see what my mum was asking for. We then worked out that she was making the sound of a car and we then remembered her call she had with my brother Jeff the day before.

“She wanted the formula one on the telly so she could be there with my brother. My mum was able to visit my brother in Bahrain in September 2008 and enjoyed her time visiting him. My brother met his girlfriend Edelyn out there and he was gutted that my mum wasn’t able to meet her or know much about her. My mum had a feeling that my brother had met someone and was really pleased for him.

“In 2008 my mum did the Midnight Beach Walk with her sister Betty. My mum had been in hospital and was discharged a week before the walk took place.

“In 2009 my aunties and I took part in the Midnight Beach Walk in memory of mum. We did this in our pyjamas and Amelia also did this with me at nine months old as I carried her for the walk.

“I wanted to do the walk this year in memory of my mum and be able to give back something to the hospice. I talked about it with Amelia and she told me that she would like to do this with me and raise her own money to thank the hospice for the care they gave her nan.”

The Midnight Beach Walk will follow a 5km route around Weston seafront, starting and finishing at the Tropicana on Marine Parade.

Women can join Michelle and Amelia by signing up at the hospices registration page by clicking here. For more information about the event, visit the hospice’s event page by clicking here.

22 August 2018

Friends of Weston Hospicecare raise more than £350 at Cheddar fundraiser

Members of the Cheddar Friends Group of Weston Hospicecare have raised £360 for the charity at a bap and doughnut lunch hosted at Cheddar Football Club.

Baps and doughnuts were donated by Wyke Farm, Tesco Express and Sainsbury’s to support the event in aid of the hospice.

Community fundraiser Sue Harding says the Cheddar Friends Group has proven a real asset to the charity in recent months.

She said: “Weston Hospicecare would like to thank all the members of the Cheddar Friends for their hard work in organising the very enjoyable bap and doughnut lunch held at Cheddar Football Club and raised the grand total of £360.

“The Cheddar Friends group has had a brilliant few months, with more activities planned. To raise £360 from donations only is fantastic and on behalf of the hospice, I would like to thank everyone who attended.

“Community events like this help the hospice raise funds needed to cover annual costs.”

The hospice receives a fifth of its funding from the NHS and must raise the rest through retail shops, donations, and fundraising events.

The Congresbury Friends of Weston Hospicecare will host a big breakfast on Saturday 15 September between 9.30am-12pm at the Methodist Church Hall.

20 August 2018

Weston Hospicecare set for national exposure at Hospice UK conference

Clinical staff from Weston Hospicecare will present work from a collaborative project with Weston General Hospital at Hospice UK’s national conference in Telford.

In-patient unit sister Claire Fisher will co-present with Dr Fiona Chiplen on 27 and 28 November to discuss a plan from a quality improvement project between the hospice and the palliative care department at the hospital.

The ideology behind the project is to further improve patient comfort while being able to identify a patient’s phase of illness more specifically.

Claire said: “We are undertaking a collaborative quality improvement project with Emma Newbold (lead nurse palliative care) at Weston General Hospital, this is unique because it is not often that two different clinical areas carry out quality improvement projects (QIP) together.

“The integrated palliative outcome scale (IPOS) is a tool that nurses can measure how a patient is feeling and can be used to identify what stage the patient may be at. A questionnaire is completed by the patient or if the patient is unable to do so by a friend, relative or a staff member.

“IPOS is a well-established tool used across many hospices, allowing healthcare professionals to capture any changes in a patient’s health status over time, it can include family and carers.

“It also promotes improved communication between professionals and in different health settings, such as hospices, hospitals and GPs. It has also been found that it improves the patient’s emotional and psychological well-being.”

Being able to present the project to a national audience at a prestigious event is not only valuable for the hospice but also to people who live where the hospice serves.

Claire continued: “At the Hospice UK annual national conference professionals submit an abstract summarising their QIP for a poster to be presented.

“We were delighted that Weston Hospicecare was selected from 390 submissions. This is the first time the hospice has submitted to this prestigious conference.

“Having had our abstract chosen is fantastic for the hospice and the hospital but more importantly the QIP will directly benefit our patients in the present and the future.

“We already have a good working relationship with the Weston General Hospital Palliative Care Team and our GPs and frequently discuss patients who are known to the hospice who may be in hospital or looked after by our community team if they are living at home.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to share our project with other hospices and other palliative care professionals at a national forum.”

17 August 2018

Meditation sessions at Weston Hospicecare for National Relaxation Day

Weston Hospicecare therapists held a meditation session for staff and patients in the hospice’s Wellbeing Centre to mark the nationally-recognised relaxation day on 15 August.

The centre offers complementary treatments to patients to provide relief from symptoms causing discomfort.

Complementary therapy coordinator Alison Bailey says relaxation is vital for everyone to function properly.

She said: “We thought being at the Wellbeing Centre we would try something to relax the patients and the staff to recognise National Relaxation Day.

“It is a huge benefit for people to be able to relax because if people can’t relax they are not letting their mind or body relax. We always say we have to work with the mind and the body and we have patients coming to me with so much going on. Sometimes patients can’t sleep, they don’t know what direction to take or where to go for help, so just switching off from wondering what is happening with their conditions can provide much-needed respite.

“For staff, they have to continually listen to people and take on board people’s issues and conditions, it is nice for them to be able to just switch off for an hour or so.

“Relaxing is hugely beneficial for our patients. A lot of what happens here is emotional. People sometimes think it is always about the physical side of things that happen here but actually it isn’t.

“We quite often say it is healing the soul, we offer time and space for patients to vent their feelings and sometimes if you are physically touching someone it can evoke emotions that need to come out. We always say in these sessions they have time to have a good laugh if they want to or a good cry if the patient would prefer.

“The complementary therapy offered here is far more tailored to the actual patient’s needs rather than going to a conventional salon. We have to adapt to their specific comfort needs and we tend to offer gentler therapies which aids relaxation a lot more. It aids sleep, we use different aromatherapies that will also aid relaxation. Our therapies help a lot with nausea and most of the symptoms we treat are nausea-related.

“For cancer patients, we find our therapies help with sensitive skin issues. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy can make skin very dry and sensitive. I hope people will be able to have a chance to relax and switch off.”

17 August 2018

Mother set for Midnight Beach Walk fundraiser in memory of daughter

The mother of a Weston Hospicecare patient, who died at the hospice at end of May aged 37, will walk the Midnight Beach Walk on 7 September in memory of her daughter.

Claire Rutter was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 31 and died at the hospice on 19 May after her illness spread. Before her death, Claire was able to have her dream wedding to Rob Cope who she had been with for nine years.

Claire’s story hit the local headlines after her wedding in May and now her mother, Katrina, will walk the gentle 5km route with close family in memory.

Katrina will be joined by her sister, her daughters and her sister-in-law to raise awareness and to support the hospice.

Katrina said: “Claire had breast cancer when she was 31. At 36, she was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer and had tumours on the bones.

“In February of this year, it had spread to her liver and lungs. In the months leading up to her passing, the cancer had progressively spread further.

“Claire passed away on 19 May leaving three beautiful girls age 14 years old, three years old and 20 months old.

“I was able to stay with Claire the whole time she was at the hospice which was seven weeks.

“The nurses allowed me to care for my daughter but I knew all I had to do was ask and they would be there if I needed help.

The hospice’s bereavement team offers emotional and spiritual support for families in the event their loved ones die.

Katrina says that if she is ever able to accept the loss of her daughter, the hospices support will be key.

She said: “Dr Helen (Horgan) and all the staff were amazing, the care and support that they gave to Claire was outstanding.

“Myself and my family also received the same outstanding care and support. After a couple of days of being in the hospice Claire said she felt ‘safe’ and I could see that she was more relaxed.

“I received exceptional support from Dr Helen, the nurses and the support team they were always there for all of us.

“Claire had her dream wedding at Batch Country House whilst staying at the hospice and all the staff helped to support and ensure all was running smoothly for her.

“The ongoing support has been amazing. I am at present having support from the hospice which is helping, I am not sure if I will come to terms with losing Claire but with the support from the hospice hopefully one day I will.

“Any women thinking of registering for the Midnight Beach Walk please do it now. You will be joining many women walking together to support their local hospice in Weston and the surrounding areas.

“Weston Hospicecare needs our help they do an amazing job caring for our loved ones. The atmosphere is amazing it is also fun, rewarding and tranquil. Come and join us to see for yourself.”

The hospice offers physical, psychological, spiritual and emotional support to those with life-limiting illnesses and their families.

Last year the Midnight Beach Walk raised more than £26,000 with 342 women taking part in the 5km route.

The deadline to sign up for this year’s event is 4 September. To register visit the designated registration page by clicking here.

For more information, visit the event page on our website by clicking here.

15 August 2018

Strictly Fun Dancing star set for Weston Hospicecare’s Midnight Beach Walk

Strictly Fun Dancing participant Lois Penketh-King is now set to raise money for Weston Hospicecare again in the upcoming Midnight Beach Walk on 7 September.

Lois will walk in memory of her mother, who died last year at the hospice after suffering with bowel cancer, alongside her daughter Charlotte.

Lois says taking part in Strictly Fun Dancing with her husband Lee has inspired her to sign up for this year’s Midnight Beach Walk.

She said: “My husband and I took part in the Strictly Fun Dancing competition this year and found the whole experience so emotional joining a group of strangers who are now our friends.

“The challenge of taking part and managing to actually stay on our feet has resulted in us both looking at our fitness levels and so my next challenge is to do the beach walk.

“The reason I am taking part in the Midnight Beach Walk is again to raise funds and awareness of this fabulous charity we have here in our local town.

“Everyone had their own stories and motivation to support the hospice and it was a privilege to be part of this.

“My daughter, Charlotte, will be doing this with me and will be doing it in memory of my Mum who died of bowel cancer last year.”

Last September, 342 women walked the 5km route to support Weston Hospicecare raising more than £26,000.

To join Lois and Charlotte next month, register before 11.30pm on 4 September to secure your place.

To sign up, visit our registration page by clicking here or for further information about the event visit our Midnight Beach Walk page by clicking here.

10 August 2018

Friends of Weston Hospicecare raise £500 at fundraising event

The Friends of Weston Hospicecare have raised £500 for the charity after a fun-filled bedpush.

The bed used was donated by Weston-based medical equipment business MedEquip and was pushed from Knightstone to the SeaQuarium along the promenade.

Members of the friends were dressed in Weston Hospicecare T-shirts and came together with the Boys Brigade and walked with collection buckets to raise money from people on the seafront.

Community fundraiser Sue Harding says it was fantastic to see everyone enjoying themselves and thanked the Friends for their continued support.

She said: “It was fantastic to see people out supporting the hospice. A huge thanks to all members of the Weston-based friends for their volunteering efforts.

“Community events play a crucial part in supporting the care the hospice offers and seeing members of the community willing to donate hard-earned money to the hospice was greatly appreciated.”

Chair of the Friends groups Sue Barlow said: “We had a fabulous and enjoyable afternoon. Locals and visitors to the town were very generous and we raised the magnificent sum of £500.

“We would like to thank the Boys Brigade, MedEquip and the Grand Pier for their support – and we hope to be doing another bedpush soon.”

Every year the hospice must raise 80% of its funding to cover the cost of providing free care for those with life-limiting illnesses, meaning community events are essential.

9 August 2018

Claire set for 10,000ft birthday skydive in memory of ‘hero’ Jim

A Weston woman will leap from 10,000ft on the birthday she shared with her grandfather in an effort to raise money for charity in his memory.

Claire Wilson will complete a tandem skydive at Honiton near Exeter on August 18 to support Weston Hospicecare.

The charity cared for Claire’s granddad Jim Wilson before he died of stomach cancer in August last year, and she says she is keen to repay the kindness showed to Jim by raising money for the hospice.

Claire said: “Last year I sadly lost my grandfather Jim to stomach cancer. During his final days, Weston Hospicecare’s palliative team supported my Pops and the rest of the family, and made him feel comfortable.

“This year in memory of my hero, on our birthday, I will be jumping from 100,000ft to raise money for the team at Weston Hospicecare so they can carry on supporting families whose loved ones are struggling.

“Hopefully with the support of my friends and family we can help others receive the best care from our local charity.

“I have experienced first-hand what a fantastic charity they are, and how much they really do for families in need of comfort when they are losing someone so special to them.

“This is my way of giving a little back as a special thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Jim’s widow Val Wilson said she was proud of the effort Claire is making on behalf of the hospice.

She said: “On 23 August 2017 I sadly lost my husband Jim to cancer. After chemotherapy and an operation, which was unsuccessful, he was given just two months to live.

“After such a long battle his wish was to pass away at home with myself and family looking after him with the help of the palliative care team at Weston Hospicecare.

“Being the hero that he is he fought to make it three months, reaching our diamond wedding anniversary. We received a telegram from the Queen bit sadly he didn’t get to see it.

“He also made it to his 80th birthday, which he shares with his granddaughter Claire. This year on their birthday Claire is doing a skydive in memory of her grandad. This is also to show our gratitude to Weston Hospicecare for their help and kindness with Jim’s wish of passing at home.

“We are hoping the money donated will help others to have the kindness and support given to our family, to which we are so grateful.”

Anyone who would like to make a donation in support of Claire’s efforts can do so via her JustGiving page.

2 August 2018

Charity golf day set to take place in aid of Weston Hospicecare

Weston-based Abatec Recruitment will hold a charity golf day on 3 August to support Weston Hospicecare.

Abatec is celebrating its 30th birthday and is celebrating the landmark by raising money for three charities during the year.

Weston Hospicecare community fundraiser Sue Harding said: “We are extremely grateful to Abatec Recruitment for choosing the hospice as its chosen charity for the upcoming charity golf day.

“Every year we rely on support from the community that we serve, so it is fantastic to see a business, which operates locally with staff who may live in the community, come together for a fun day while supporting a great charity.

“On behalf of the hospice, we would like to congratulate Abatec Recruitment for celebrating 30 years in business.”

Abatec’s managing director, Phil Davies, says the company has decided to support Weston Hospicecare because of a personal connection which involved the charity.

He said: “We are a Weston-super-Mare-based recruitment company that is celebrating 30 years of trading. In honour of this milestone, we are supporting and raising money for three worthwhile charities which have a personal meaning to us.

“Right now, we are focusing on raising money for Weston Hospicecare. The facility based in Uphill is truly amazing; providing palliative care for those suffering from life-limiting illnesses as well as supporting their loved ones in Weston and the surrounding areas.

“Unfortunately, an ex-member of Mendip Spring Golf Club and very close friend to our mine, Graham Grey, sadly lost his battle whilst under the care of this wonderful charity.

“To raise awareness and money, Abatec will be hosting a charity golf day on 3 August at Mendip Spring Golf Club, with all proceeds going to Weston Hospicecare.”