NewsSummer 2019 Hospice marks 30 years with expansion of hospice at home service

In 2019, as Florence Nightingale Hospice painkiller injections,” wrote a local patient in Charity (FNHC) celebrates three decades a Hospice patient survey in 2018. of incredible community support for the The new service provided by Florence Hospice, the Board of Trustees has agreed Nightingale Hospice will expand the current to fund a new Hospice at Home service in Nightingale 24/7 team with the addition of Vale, starting towards the end qualified nurses to create a full “hospice of 2019. at home” team. This will allow the team to “Research shows that 89% of people say provide responsive symptom control visits they want to die at home or in a hospice, 24/7 and be able to administer medication with 60 to 70% preferring to die at home, while continuing to support patients and where they feel most comfortable,” says their loved ones to be able to stay at home. FNHC’s Chief Executive Officer, Jo Turner. They will also support discharges from the “Yet more than half of us will die in hospital, Hospice or hospital to allow patients to often following an emergency admission return home and be cared for there at the during the last two weeks of life.” end of their life. is the only part of Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity will without a Hospice at fund a two year pilot of a Hospice at Home Home service. Evidence has shown that service for Aylesbury Vale. This team will be hospital admissions can be avoided at the known as FNH@home. end of life with the support of a hospice at The new service will cost £300,000 per home team. At present the Charity part- year, part of which will be paid for by a funds a team of Clinical Nurse Specialists, legacy from Ronald William Raven. The and also funds a team of carers (the Charity believes the traditional generosity, Nightingale 24/7 team) who can provide effort and support of Buckinghamshire’s physical, psychological and social support local communities will make it possible to the patient and their family but are unable to fund this new service as well as all the to deliver symptom control medications. current care offered by the Hospice, based “[We] struggled with the long wait for on a tradition of over 30 years of incredible someone to come at night to administer community fundraising for this hospice.

Reg Charity No. 1119499 NEWS Entertainment for all tastes with Florence The Events calendar for the 30th Anniversary gins to try, along with food and live music, reflects the enormous diversity of the people this is a fun and relaxed festival which raises who support the Hospice. Ever since 1986, thousands of pounds for the Hospice. people of all ages and generations have If pub quizzes and coffee mornings raised money or taken part in fundraising are more your thing, there are plenty of events, and this year’s calendar really those on offer too. Like and follow our represents the enormous range of ways the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ community finds to raise money. florencenightingalehospice to see what’s Families with younger children will love the happening in your area. open air performance of Alice in Wonderland at Claydon House on 13th July. It’s a Thanks to Claydon House for kindly hosting this outdoor madcap musical adventure that will delight theatre adventure little ones, so grab a picnic blanket and settle in for an entertaining afternoon in the beautiful grounds of the former home of Florence Nightingale herself! Time for the grown-ups to relax with friends at the Aylesbury Beer Festival at Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School on 1st and 2nd November. With over 30 real ales and a range of boutique

Monthly Bereavement Drop In Café launched

Whoever you are, whether you are NHS staff, Hospice. “Illness and death impacts us all a carer, patient, friend or relative: if your life is and it can be a really difficult time so if you touched by palliative care needs or bereavement, need some support or just the company of come and join staff and Volunteers from the people who understand, come and have a Bereavement Support team for tea and cake cuppa and a chat.” from 1pm-3pm on the last Friday of every month If you are a carer, patient, family member or in the Day Hospice at Florence Nightingale Hospice. Anyone is welcome to come along and friend who is going through bereavement or there’s no need to book. dealing with the impact of a life-limiting or terminal illness, the Hospice can support you, “We cannot make it better but we can whether your loved one has been cared for support each other,” says Ann Kenny, who by the Hospice or not. is Bereavement Support Team Lead at the

2 NEWS Tony Hadley serenades Hospice

In March, ex-Spandau Ballet frontman and Haddenham local Tony Hadley delivered a very special 30th birthday message for Florence Nightingale Hospice...singing Happy Birthday to an audience of staff, Volunteers and customers at the Haddenham Shop! For the full experience, go to our Facebook page and play the video with sound. Thanks very much, Tony! Who’s wearing the bunny ears in 2019?

Ross Batting and Tim Page of 3B Hire & Servicing The cast of Abigail’s Party at The Waterside Theatre, Jodie Prenger, Vicky Binns, Daniel Casey, Calum, Callaghan and Rose Keegan

Dara O’Briain, comic and Ben Fogle, TV presenter and Andy Collins, BBC 3 Counties TV presenter adventurer Radio DJ

3 VOLUNTEERING Volunteer Gardeners

These photos from our wonderful Volunteer and Charity Ambassador, Ron Adams, are a brilliant tribute to the work of the Hospice’s Volunteer Gardeners. What a gorgeous and evocative way to show how much beauty they bring to the Hospice!

Complementary therapists needed to treat our Hospice patients Are you a reflexology, massage or reiki Hours are flexible to suit you - any time therapist with a big heart who would like you can spare for our patients is incredibly to give something back to the community gratefully received. by volunteering at the Hospice? Therapists To find out more, please contact the help to relieve pain and provide comfort and relaxation to patients in the Day Hospice Hospice on 01296 332 600 and ask for and In-Patient Unit. Tracey Batt.

4 VOLUNTEERING Volunteer Spotlight Betty Pullinger has been volunteering at the Winslow Shop for five years. We asked her to tell us about why she chose to volunteer and what it’s like.

“Where I lived before, I was working full time and I am sure our Manager Sybil-Jane, and then I retired and I always felt that when would be more than happy to let them I retired it was time to give something back come for a couple of hours, maybe for two to the community, so I started work in the or three weeks on the run, and just get a Hospice in Dunmow in Essex. I volunteered feel of what it is like. I do appreciate that it there for about 18 months. It was long is not for everyone. enough to be working in the Hospice itself “The work is very varied. One day I am for me as an individual, but they said, “Would sorting clothes when I am here and then you like to go into the shop rather than us another day I may spend the morning on the lose you?” So I went into the shop and till. Doing displays in the Shop and since we loved it. have been refitted, of course it’s a pleasure “So when I moved here eight years ago, it to do all those things. We have a lovely was one of the things that, once we had environment here now, it is bright and clean unpacked the boxes, I had got on my list, and happy, it is a happy shop.” and here I am. If you would like to try volunteering in one of “From a personal perspective, I like the our Shops, please contact our Volunteering socialising of course. The thing I like most is team on 01296 332 600 or email that I had a friend who died of cancer and [email protected] she didn’t want to die at home, and she was offered a place at Florence. I was working here at the time but that allowed me to go to Florence to visit her a few times and it was just wonderful. “When I am here now and I have an off day, as we all do, and I put my hand in a bag of something that I wish I hadn’t, I think of my friend Freda and that’s why I am here. “I think the laughs that we can have over some of the things that we can take out of bags but the friendship, the camaraderie, that’s worth a lot to the people who volunteer here and, as I say, also what would we do without places like hospices? “I would recommend it to other people, providing they have got the time, of course,

5 RETAIL FNHC Shops at the heart of reducing waste

As global warming and climate change becomes a bigger and more urgent news story, governments and businesses are increasingly taking measures to minimise their impact on the environment. Here at Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity, we aim to follow the ‘Three Rs’ of reducing our impact on the environment.

Reduce • We aim to keep our electricity bills down and save energy by always switching off lights and computers when not in use. • We are striving to become a paperless office – not only reducing the costs of printing and storing paper records but also reducing our use of paper as far as possible in day- to-day printing, e.g. by printing double-sided as standard. • Where we can, we contact our Supporters and Volunteers by email rather than via post. This not only saves on our use of paper, but also the cost of posting. If you Gift Aid any of your donations to our Shops, please give us your email address so we can send your acknowledgment via email. • Whilst we regularly update our website and social media with our events and news, we recognise that many of our supporters prefer to receive our updates in this printed Newsletter. The Newsletter is also available online and via email – if you would prefer to receive it this way, please give us a call on 01296 429975 or email us at preferences@ fnhospice.org.uk to request this. • We are also keen to reduce our use of plastics – our Shops are moving away from supplying new plastic bags and we hope to be able to offer a long-lasting re-usable bag soon.

6 RETAIL

Look out for these recycling boxes – thanks to Aylesbury Box Company for producing the boxes, and PrintLab for the labels

Re-use Recycle • Our Shops are almost entirely stocked • You would be amazed at how much by generous donations of clothes, money we can raise for the Charity bric-a-brac, books, music, furniture through recycling – last year alone, textile recycling through our Shops raised over and so much more. Donating to our £65,000! All clothing, textiles and books Shops helps us to raise essential funds that are unsaleable or unsold are recycled, for our Hospice as well as giving items which funds our Hospice as well as the chance to be re-used and loved by reducing landfill. somebody new. • Watch out for the new recycling points • We have some very clever and in FNHC Shops where you can drop off artistic volunteers who are amazing at your old mobile phones, printer toners & upcycling some of the furniture which cartridges, used stamps, foreign currency is donated at our Furniture Showroom and CDs/DVDs. Recycling boxes are in Aylesbury overleaf. also being installed in the offices of our Corporate Partners – if you would • We are also grateful for the donations like one for your office, please contact of unwanted office supplies which we Emma Carroll on 01296 429975 or email receive at the Charity headquarters – [email protected]. not only does this reduce our costs of • We have paper recycling points set up at buying stationery and office furniture, our Charity Head Office on Walton Street it also avoids usable goods going into in Aylesbury. Head Office is now also a landfill. TerraCycle collection point for empty crisp packets, which also generates a small • Any shredding which is done in the amount of income for the Charity. office is sent to our Online Sales team to use as packaging. • This year we shall be making it easier for you to recycle at home too, as our whole Christmas card selection will be glitter-free.

7 RETAIL

Never write off a piece of furniture that’s still got potential! Remember that one person’s battered junk can be another person’s upcycled triumph. This display cabinet was transformed by Heather Trendell to be sold in the FNHC Furniture Showroom. FNHC Retail in Thame Music numbers in the Park

Retail Volunteers: 194 Retail Volunteers Hours per year: 40,352 Years served by Shop staff: 89 Income from Gift Aid: £29,778 Christmas Card packs sold: 6,779 packs Income from Christmas Cards: £26,466 sales Bags donated per week: 2,000 Income from rags: £66,831 % increase in sales this year: 19% Number of customer transactions: 127,266 The Thame Shop team rocking the festival vibe Poet Robert Browning helps the Hospice The Chinnor Shop had a fascinating and historically important donation earlier this year. It was a book called The Shelley Society’s Publications, An Essay on Percy Bysshe Shelley by the poet Robert Browning and the donation included a handwritten letter by Robert Browning to the Editor thanking him. It was sold at Tring Market Auctions in their ‘Fine Arts Sale’ and sold for just over £200.

8 RETAIL

“If Life Brings A Storm, let Florrie Be Your Brolly” This touching window display was created Manager Sybil-Jane. Everything else in the by our Winslow Shop Team in collaboration window is made from donations made to with patients at the Day Hospice to show our Winslow Shop, and the whole window appreciation for the help and support that our is themed in Florence Nightingale Hospice Hospice provides to local people and their Charity colours. families when faced with a life-limiting illness. We were so impressed by this window that The felt raindrops were hand-sewn by we have nominated it for a Best Window patients from Day Hospice and the papier- Award at the Charity Retail Association which mache clouds were made by our Shop will be judged in June.

Haddenham is in it to win it Congratulations to these two lucky Annette Luck, Shop Manager in customers at our Haddenham Shop Haddenham, is our top seller of Hospice whose numbers recently came up in Lottery tickets – which is probably why the Hospice Lottery! she has so many winners! The Hospice Lottery Partnership supports five hospices caring for over 11,000 patients and their families across Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Middlesex and . Last year alone they were able to fund an incredible £1,140,500 of hospice care through the Hospice Lottery.

9 EVENTS Eggstraordinary community effort yields successful Easter Egg Tombola

Individuals and companies in Aylesbury and Thanks to Adams Travel, Anytime Fitness surrounding villages generously donated a Aylesbury, AVDC, KY Green Funeral record-breaking 650 eggs for the Easter Egg Directors, Nuffield Health Aylesbury Fitness Tombola. As a result of this great community & Wellbeing Gym, Tesco (Tring Road effort, the Tombola raised £733 for the & Broadfields), The Co-op , Hospice on the day – and the leftover eggs , Jansel Square and Mandeville raised another £233 at the Haddenham Road and Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust Community Support Group’s event at Nether for hosting Donation Stations. Winchendon a few days later.

Pyramid of Coffee Mornings launches at Coffee for Karen Coffee for Karen is a wonderful reunion over Mornings to celebrate the Hospice’s 30th cake and coffee for people who knew and Anniversary. The idea is that people attend loved Karen Henderson, the first Florence a Coffee Morning in aid of the Hospice, and Nightingale House Matron, and who then agree to hold one themselves, thereby support the Charity. Organised by Karen’s creating a Coffee Morning everywhere in best friend and colleague Jane Lutchmiah, Buckinghamshire. On the day, at least ten former Day Hospice Manager, the event people signed up to hold a Coffee Morning features delicious home-baked cakes later on this year. and delightful people getting together to Thank you to everyone who attended and socialise. An amazing £1,100 was raised for to Jane and all her helpers for throwing a the Hospice. fantastic party and thanks to Ron Adams for As well as remembering Karen, Jane brilliant photos, all of which you can see on wanted to launch the Pyramid of Coffee the FNHC Facebook page.

10 EVENTS

32 walk across hot coals for the Hospice

32 brave volunteers aged from 11 to 70 went across the hot coals three times. “I years took on the challenge of walking thought it would be quite fun to walk on fire. across four metres of burning hot embers I thought it would be quite hard, but it was at a Fire Walk at Aylesbury Rugby Club, actually really fun,” he said. and raised just over £2,000 for Florence Denise Hunter (70) took part with her step- Nightingale Hospice. daughters. “I wanted to go first actually,” With temperatures exceeding 600˚C, a Fire she told Steve. “I signed up, and then I Walk requires careful mental preparation, so persuaded these two to sign up. They are the evening included an hour of motivational such brilliant people at the Hospice and and psychological training before the Fire they helped us as well as their dad.” Walk itself, which took place in front of an audience of around 100 family and friends. “I liked it so much I did it twice!” Laura Miller told Steve Fox of Red Kite Radio, who covered the event and did the Fire Walk with his new Breakfast Show colleague, FNHC Haddenham Shop Manager, Annette Luck. “My dad has recently had some respite care at the Hospice and they’re working closely with him,” explained Laura. “It was really important to me when I saw firsthand the important work they did, I just felt compelled to do something, anything, and if that meant walking on fire, then so be it!” Harry Mackintosh is just 12 years old and was one of the five children under 14 who

11 EVENTS

Watermead goes dayglo for 80s Family Fun Run

Around 120 runners brightened up Dance, the runners set off on the 2.5k Watermead Lake with their dayglo 80s and 5k runs. outfits to raise money for Florence “It was a lovely day for a run or a stroll Nightingale Hospice Charity at the 80s around the Lake,” said Events & Community Family Fun Run. Manager Vicky James. “Thanks to all the Providing a warm 80s welcome on the participants for being such great sports and Piazza was MC John Yarnell from On bringing their energy and enthusiasm to The Run dressed as Freddie Mercury, support the Hospice. And thank you to all while in The Watermead Inn staff and the Volunteers and businesses who helped Volunteers provided free tea, coffee and make it happen.” beautiful Florence-themed cupcakes to The event raised just over £2,100 for the participants. After a high-energy aerobics Hospice. The beautiful photos by Derek warm-up from regular Florence supporter Pelling can be found at www.facebook. Jo Beardsmore-Dilks of JBD Fitness & com/florencenightingalehospice.

12 BOOK WITH YOUR LOCAL AWARD WINNINGFinalist COACH TOUR OPERATOR! 2018

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01296 336666 www.crusader-holidays.co.uk Visit us: Crusader Holidays 4 Street, Aylesbury, Bucks HP20 2LD [email protected] COMMUNITY A big thank you to… The Little Trip Boat Aylesbury Vale Golf Club

based at the Aylesbury Canal Basin next to whose Senior, Men’s and Women’s the Waterside Theatre for donating £100 Captains and players raised an amazing raised from customers who said “keep the £6,465 for Florence Nightingale Hospice change”. Owner Liz said, “My father died Charity through their Captain’s Days, “Beat at the Hospice a few years ago. Although the Barman” competition and penalties for only there for a few hours, the care we had hitting selected bunkers and the pond over was exemplary. Since then I have set up the past year. my own little business running a trip boat in Aylesbury. When people say ‘keep the change’, I have accumulated those into this donation.”

FNHC CEO Jo Turner, Dave Simons (Seniors Captain), Jane Barker (Ladies Captain), John Barker (Club Captain), Jason Thornalley (Club Barman!), and FNHC Head of Fundraising Lee Lloyd Wren and Sadie Wrens of Thame for their donation of £4, which they raised through selling homemade biscuits. Butchers and their customers for filling one of the Charity’s green tubs with £120.79. Although the tub was issued on the 12th November most of the donations were raised in a couple of weeks in December after Wrens introduced donations in return for plastic bags!

14 COMMUNITY On The Run Aylesbury Mix 96 for supporting in lots of different ways. for choosing FNHC as the charity to benefit They made the 80s Family Fun Run the from this year’s Mix96 Pancake Race. target run in one of their Couch to 5K Here’s DJ Nathan Cooper, Pancake Race courses and so got a team together to MC, presenting FNHC’s Emma Carroll take part and raise money for the Hospice. with a frying pan full of £130 raised by the OTR’s organiser, Personal Trainer Monika wonderful businesses and organisations Yarnell also persuaded her husband John who took part. Thank you also to Mix 96 to be MC for the event, and dressed as and listeners for collecting Easter eggs to Freddie Mercury he provided plenty of fun give to the families cared for by our Florrie’s and a great atmosphere for the runners. Children’s Team in the Mix 96 Easter Egg They have also created a Training Walk Appeal – presented by DJ Ben Moseby. programme on Monday nights especially for Midnight Walkers.

The Seven Stars at Iain Westgate’s Dinton family who presented Hospice and Charity for raising £1,753 at their Easter Pub staff with a cheque for a fantastic £3,215 Quiz. Huge thanks to Diana and Steve raised from a Burns Night event held Merry for organising, Steph from the in Iain’s memory. A huge thank you to Seven Stars for hosting and Kirsty for her everyone who organised and attended the famous Scotch Eggs! event for your contributions to hospice care in Buckinghamshire.

15 COMMUNITY A big thank you to… Aylesbury United Ordinary2Extraordinary

Football Club for the amazing donation of £18,000 towards the running of our Florrie’s for supporting the Hospice for the past Children’s Team - qualified nurses and year through collections at matches, carers who offer support to children fundraising events, advertising FNHC with life-limiting illnesses, in their own events and promoting the Charity by home. O2E is a group of philanthropic wearing official FNHC T-shirts for warming people which organises a huge range of up before matches. “Throughout the fundraising events mainly focused around season, the Club was committed towards exercise and adventure, fundraising for helping FNHC with fundraising activities charities which improve the lives of children and events which aimed to raise FNHC’s who are terminally ill or disabled. profile in and around Aylesbury,” said AUFC’s Warren Sheward, who organises their charity activities. A huge thank you to everyone at the Club: players, management and especially fans, for raising £682 for the Charity.

Ford Village Society

for raising £87 at their Christmas Carol The Bell in Hardwick Concert in December. Every month they run a Quiz and allow the winning team to decide who the proceeds go to. February’s Quiz was the busiest they had ever had with 68 people attending and over 15 teams. The winning team, ‘The Hard Done Bys’ (who are apparently not at all “hard done by” as they’re currently on a winning streak), chose FNHC and raised £140 for the Hospice.

16 COMMUNITY Adams Travel Family and friends of for organising a fantastic Quiz evening and Jackie Cummins getting the largest number of raffle prizes who organised a quiz at the White Hill together we’ve ever seen! The event raised Centre in February in aid of Florence £1,400 and, to top it off, Team Flo won the Nightingale Hospice and the White Hill tie-breaker to take first place. Centre, where Jackie had worked for over 25 years. Members of her family came to the Hospice to present a cheque for £930. Thank you to everyone involved for generously supporting the Hospice.

Wills and Trusts Andy and Jo Cowie who are Chartered Financial Planners and all the Music Quizzers who attended based in Thame, and who hosted a Quiz Andy’s Music Quiz in Hawkslade for raising Night at Village Hall which an amazing £642, and congratulations to raised £1,375 for the Charity and was the winning team - Asia - pictured here greatly enjoyed by everyone (especially the with their trophy. winning team from Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity!)

Thame Snooker Club

with Sound Force and Ukolade for raising £336.64 for the Hospice at a Music Evening in January.

17 COMMUNITY A big thank you to… Bearbrook Running and Heather Dyson

Triathlon Club of Aylesbury Vale Crematorium for presenting FNHC’s Michelle Merrison with a for raising £230 for the Hospice from the cheque for £250 as a donation to support raffle at their annual Awards Dinner. hospice care at Florence Nightingale Hospice. Thanks also to the Crematorium for allowing our Family Fun Runners to use Crusader Holidays the carpark on the day of the event which and the customers for raising £120 for the really helped with the logistics. Hospice through the raffle on their Reunion weekend trip to Bideford in Devon.

Morris of

for raising £154 from the raffle at their April Mike Jacobs and family Farmhouse Breakfasts, and thank you to their customers for putting a further £50 in for raising £2,171 through donations and Florrie Bear’s pink bucket! sales of Mike’s single Stay.

18 COMMUNITY Haddenham Community Support Group for putting on such a successful Coffee Hart. “There was plenty to do apart from Morning at Nether Winchendon House relaxing over a cup of coffee and it appeared in April. Thank you also to Sir Robert that just about everyone went home with Spencer Bernard for hosting the event and an Easter Egg. Robert Spencer Bernard conducting private tours round the house. conducted private tours round the house, The event raised a total of £1,579 for and the lovely grounds were a pleasure Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity. “The to walk round in the spring sunshine. Carriage Barn at Nether Winchendon House The Haddenham Community Support is historic and made a beautiful venue for Committee are grateful for the support of the event,” said Committee Member Angela local people.”

The Masonic Charitable The Old Fisherman

Foundation management and customers for holding a Pub Quiz and raising £120 for the Hospice for donating £400 which was delivered to through ticket sales and a raffle. the Charity by Peter Thomas, Provincial Area Charity Representative of the Foundation. Ferdinand de Rothschild Lodge No. 2420 for their generous donation of £1,000 towards improvements to the facilities at Florence Nightingale Hospice. Pictured are Brian Bruton, Immediate Past Master and Alan Marriott, Charity Steward, with FNHC CEO Jo Turner and Head of Fundraising Lee Lloyd.

19 CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS

Local van hire company comes to Hospice’s rescue In April Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity “This is an incredible gift,” said FNHC’s Head (FNHC) made an appeal for help to fund a of Retail, Lily Caswell. “We have been blown new furniture delivery van for the Charity’s away by the generosity of Ross and Tim at Furniture Showroom in Chamberlain Road. 3B Hire and Servicing. It’s a massive relief to know that we can rely on having this perfect Haddenham and Aylesbury-based vehicle hire brand new furniture van, funded entirely company 3B Hire and Servicing came to the by 3B for the next year, giving us complete rescue within a few days of the appeal, after reliability and peace of mind, and at no cost seeing the Bucks Herald article on Facebook. to the Charity.” “I know the charity well and the great work “It’s good to know that FNHC are in a nice they do,” says Ross Batting, owner at 3B new van that should be reliable and enable Hire and Servicing. “I have always looked for them to do their work without worry,” opportunities to get involved with charities commented Ross Batting. “Knowing and this just felt right.” the money it would have cost to fund a replacement for their old van, it makes me The furniture collection and delivery van picks happy to have been able to help. I don’t up donations of furniture and white goods think people appreciate the costs involved from donors’ homes, and also provides home in running such an organisation. The work delivery of items bought from the Furniture FNHC do is invaluable to so many people Showroom. It’s an essential part of the FNHC and I’m actually quite proud to be associated Retail team’s customer service. in some small way,” Ross said. Equitable Life supply Hospice with tea and biscuits

Thanks to the Community Partnership donates tea, coffee, biscuits and goodies Team at Equitable Life Assurance Society to put in the Hospice’s visitors’ kitchen in Aylesbury for keeping our patients, staff and staff room. Thank you to Committee and visitors well supplied with tea, coffee, Member Pam Abrahams for organising and biscuits and treats. The company regularly delivering the goodies to the Hospice.

20 CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS Local networking group welcomes charity partner

Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity Midnight Walk, while Wellness Coach Evelyn has been sponsored by local networking Kaluza will be holding a Wellness Coaching group BNI Heritage (Aylesbury) to join the evening to raise money for the Charity in group to help raise awareness of corporate September.” partnership opportunities. BNI Members very kindly agreed to pay the joining fee to enable the Charity to promote its fundraising Waddesdon staff choose activities to them and their networks. Florence for 2019 “BNI Heritage is a very successful group and we are really delighted that they The staff and volunteers at Waddesdon are supporting the Hospice,” said Kirsty Manor have chosen FNHC as their Charity Shanahan, PR & Marketing Manager. of the Year for 2019. They are undertaking “Examples of their support include Darren four events at Waddesdon to help raise St Mart, who is a Wills and Estates Planner awareness of the Charity and will be with Honey Legal, doing the Fire Walk, volunteering too. Events include a Quiz and we have four BNI Heritage Members Night, a planting day, a Walk and a Bake signed up to man the BNI Pit-stop at the Off Competition.

acar2go supports through Enterprise donation The Charity received an unexpected sponsor acar2go in , kindly and amazing donation of £1,500 from chose Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity! Enterprise, the car hire firm, who offer Pictured is Rakesh Agravat of Enterprise businesses they work with the opportunity presenting the Charity’s Michelle Merrison to give money to a charity of their choice. with the cheque, with the team from Mark Duncan, owner of Midnight Walk acar2go.

21 CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS ACCO ‘Promises’ raise £1,425

Staff at ACCO Brands, one of our long- standing Corporate Partners, have taken on a number of challenges over the years to raise money for the Charity and this year has been no exception with 40 employees making ‘promises’ in our 30 in 30 for £30 fundraising challenge. Each participant committed to carry out their own Promise for 30 days, from exercising to reading, with ACCO contributing £5 for each participant and an additional £25 for everyone Becci Cobb did a 30 second handstand every day who completed their challenge. In total, everyone’s efforts raised a phenomenal £1,425. “We were really impressed by the wide variety of ideas that the participants came up with and their commitment to completing the challenge,” said Emma Carroll, FNHC’s Corporate Partnerships Manager.

ACCO’s 30 in 30 Promises included: • Walk 30 minutes each day

• Do a 30 second handstand each day Tim Walker did 30 minutes of exercise a day • Take the stairs each day • Exercise 30 minutes each day • 30 sit ups each day • Run 30 miles in 30 days • Read 30 pages of a book in 30 days • Give up a favourite treat for 30 days • Give up social media for 30 days • Give away 30 items of unwanted goods in 30 days

Darren Thelwell took the stairs every day

22 CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS

Creative fundraising by The Share Centre already paying dividends

The employees of The Share Centre in will miss it – but it’s only hair, it will grow back! Aylesbury have voted to support Florence I’m just really pleased that we’ve managed to Nightingale Hospice Charity (FNHC) for raise so much money between us.” two years, starting in January 2019, In addition to the sponsored headshave, the coinciding with the start of the Charity’s 30th company is also organising a number of other Anniversary celebrations. challenges throughout the year to raise as The partnership will take multiple forms, with much money as possible, including skydiving the Share Centre team taking on physical in July and a 30 mile cycle ride around the challenges to raise money, volunteering for Vale of Aylesbury in October. the Charity, and also donating expertise to A wide range of fundraising events such as support the Charity’s own staff development. pub quizzes, bake sales and a monthly dress In May, four employees of The Share Centre, down day collection from The Share Centre the Aylesbury based stockbroker, braved staff have already raised over £4,000 for the having their heads shaved which saw them Hospice this year. raise over £1,100 for Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity. Emma Carroll, Corporate Partnerships Manager at Florence Nightingale Hospice The idea was the brainchild of The Share Charity says, “We’re so grateful for the way Centre employee Tia Way, who having made the team at The Share Centre have really the decision to shave off her shoulder-length embraced supporting Florence Nightingale locks for charity, soon persuaded three other Hospice. We’re extremely impressed by the colleagues, Saajan Pandit, Haroon Rashid lengths they are going to with the Skydive, and Zack Tennison, to follow suit. 30-mile cycle ride and the Headshave really “The Hospice is an important charity to me showing incredible commitment to the cause. so I wanted to do my bit, but I didn’t fancy Thank you to everyone for all their effort and jumping out of a plane,” said Tia. “Cutting my time and for going the extra mile to support hair off seemed an easy way of helping them. I the Hospice.” 23 YOUR STORY “I had never known such care and compassion” Former radio DJ Adrian Coulson has been coming to Day Hospice for seven months, and has also spent a week in the In-Patient Unit to recover from a chest infection. He is immensely appreciative of the care he has received from the FNH team, as he told Steve Wyatt from Hospital Radio. “I was shipped into the Hospice actually into this relationship with the people, it not really knowing what to expect. I have grows and it is a very wonderful thing. It lung cancer and I also have a rather is very, very unique and I am very proud to unpleasant other cancer. know a bit about it.

“The first I knew about this was being “Hospices are not dreadful places, dark offered a placement in the Hospice. Quite places. They are really a super place to go frankly at that time I wouldn’t know what to. Nothing is pushed on to you, you’re a hospice was if it fell on me. Except that allowed to go at your own speed. it looked a bit dark and gloomy and then “Day Hospice is very varied. It provides gradually as the visitor who came to see alternatives, if you want to do arts and me explained what it was about, then the crafts…some people like to do mosaic. I lights began to come on and I said, “Yes enjoy doing calligraphy – I haven’t done let’s give it a try, let’s join in, let’s learn calligraphy for a long time but it’s given me something from it, let’s gain something a new interest, a diverse interest from just from it.” And progressively as you move watching a television or listening to the radio. This is what it develops, it develops alternative interests, it provides a diversion away from the heavy bits of it.

“It is a home from home as it provides an understanding, a care, which is important to everybody but particularly people who have all sorts of aspects in their life that they sometimes don’t want to face. It just provides a very, very welcome place to

24 go; it is one of my most important days wards would dearly love to give. There are of the week. I look forward to seeing the just not the facilities or the finances, sadly. people that I have spoken to, that I have But by very generous donations from the made friends with, I can talk nonsense, I public the Hospice is able to offer a much can tell silly jokes. That’s what it is about more one-to-one basis of care. To have to me and it is an enjoyment. If you do talk time to listen to problems and to be able to somebody and you can help them in a to take the care to be able to improve life. little way, it is a sense of fulfilment, which “I had never known such care and gives you your pleasure for the day. compassion as I have known from people “I did go through a phase where I needed within the Hospice. There is always a much more concentrated care certainly happy, smiley face around the place and with things like medication. I just needed I know a couple of them have reduced a much closer supervision with the me to fits of laughter at 3am when I treatment that I received which couldn’t, can’t sleep. They are superb people, the in all honesty, be better…this is the most Hospice and the gang here are great, they incredible experience that one can have have never been stumped for an answer when you are being looked after to this in their own wonderful way. There is no degree. way of singling out an individual, it is a fantastic organisation. “Hospice care is a much more specialised variety of care. The principal care “The word “hospice” is a bit of misnomer. offered in hospices is palliative care. Hospice means I’m going to die. It is not, Unfortunately, the NHS does not have it is the beginning of a new section of your time or personnel to be able to give the life. If you can remember that, that is the level of care that nursing staff on the first stepping stone.”

25 China Trekkers gear up for Great Wall In November seventeen people are going to trek the Great Wall of China to raise awareness and funds for Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity. The gruelling itinerary involves a 17-hour flight to Beijing followed by three 7-hour days and two half days trekking across the Wall in parts of the remotest areas of China. They have all been raising money for FNHC to meet their fundraising targets, and training for this physically demanding trek into the Orient.

The Hospice Nurses Team Four nurses from the Hospice are in the group: Tracey, Day Hospice Team Leader, Kate, the In-Patient Unit Ward Sister and Lynda Roche and Catherine Calder, two of our Staff Nurses. “Palliative care is an area we all feel privileged to work in. Of course some days are incredibly difficult, but it is always have seen first-hand why this funding is so balanced out by the laughter, love, care and important which is why we are all testing support shown by everybody who comes our boundaries, pushing the limits and through the hospice doors,” says Tracey. completing the Great Wall of China trek.” “The Hospice Charity raises money every They have been organising cake sales, year, without these invaluable funds we bucket collections, Quiz nights and many wouldn’t be able to run all of the services other events, as well as starting a training we are able to offer to our patients. We regime to get them fit for the trek.

Simon & Vanessa Morgan Simon and his wife Vanessa have never attempted anything like the China Trek before. “Losing my wonderful Mum was the lowest moment in my life, but I can only image how much worse it would have been, without the incredible support from the Hospice nurses.” says Simon. “We aim to raise a minimum of £3,000 to help the charity continue their incredible work.”

26 CHALLENGE FUNDRAISING

Kathryn Clark

Sarah Grimwood Kathryn has been given the chance to volunteer part-time for FNHC by her In October 2016 Sarah’s husband, Rob, employer, The John Lewis Partnership, was diagnosed with a brain tumour. On and has joined the Fundraising Team at 5th May 2018 he passed away. “He was Head Office. “In aid of Florence Nightingale at home, as he’d wanted, with his family Hospice Charity I’m going to be stepping around him - and this was thanks to the out of my comfort zone and have signed support and care provided by the Florence up for their 30th Anniversary China Trek Nightingale Hospice,” says Sarah. “They Challenge in November. There will be lots were there for the family throughout Rob’s and lots of steps! This is like nothing I have illness, providing all the things we needed ever done before so I will be training in the as we discovered we needed them.” lead up to the trek (a challenge in itself!)” “Walking the Great Wall of China has been says Kathryn. on my bucket list for a long time, and when I discovered that the Hospice were organising Judy Hardcastle a fundraising trek it was something that I felt I just had to do. So, in November 2019 I’m In June 2016, Judy’s husband John going to be walking for 7-8 hours/day along passed away after fighting prostate little-visited parts of the Wall through stunning cancer for several years. During the last landscapes with breathtaking views!” six months of John’s life, he was cared for by Florence Nightingale Hospice at home Sarah will be paying all the costs of the and for the last few days in the Hospice. trip herself and has already raised a further “Every member of staff cared for him with £2,000 fundraising commitment for the compassion and also took time to make Hospice. She has held two Brush Parties him feel comfortable whilst taking an (see picture), among other events, which interest in him and the whole family,” says have been great successes. Judy. “As a way of saying thank you, I will be trekking along 50km of the Great Wall of China for 9 days raising money for Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity. In doing this, I hope to ensure that the much needed care and support continues for other families.” “John and I loved to travel and this was on our bucket list, so unfortunately I’ll be trekking on without him.”

27 CHALLENGE FUNDRAISING Em Jenkins If you would like to support any of Local student Em Jenkins, age 18, was our China trekkers, please go to inspired to begin fundraising for Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity after the death www.fnhospice.org.uk/china-challenge/ of her boyfriend’s father Rob Grimwood in where you’ll find links to all their May 2018. fundraising pages. “He was cared for in the Florence Nightingale Hospice and later at home by their Nightingale 24/7 Team, and every single staff member and volunteer I encountered while visiting him was absolutely lovely, to both him and everyone around him,” said Em. Olivia Band and Alongside studying for her A levels and an Brendan Fay online Events Management diploma, Em has organised a huge array of events from In 2018, Olivia’s nan sadly passed away. a musical showcase and Christmas craft “Florence Nightingale Hospice looked after fair to a sponsored leg wax and children’s my nan in her final days and did such an writing competition, and she made her amazing job making sure she was ok and fundraising target of £3,000 in February – supporting the family 24/7. To remember the first trekker to do so. my nan and give back to this amazing charity we have decided to take on the “I suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome, challenge to trek The Great Wall of China so that has provided its own challenges and raise funds to continue their great throughout the fundraising, but I have been work. This is going to be no easy task.” pretty determined not to let it stop me - says Olivia. part of the appeal of doing the Trek itself was giving myself a big challenge to work Olivia and Brendan have already organised towards. My teachers at school have been a huge number of fundraising events really supportive of my fundraising, and including a sponsored leg wax for brave three of them have even donated to my colleagues at Tesco Tring Road, a quiz JustGiving page!” says Em. night and raffle and a curry night.

28 Lee Duffy Serena Jebb and Lee Duffy is the General Manager at Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury who are Jo Richardson longstanding partners of the Charity. “I Jo and Serena run Ruby Lane hairdressing wanted to give myself a real challenge, an salon on Bedgrove in Aylesbury. The salon adventure, rip myself as far as possible has a long history of supporting charities and from my comfort zone and raise money this year they decided to support Florence for this fantastic charity. I will be doing a Nightingale Hospice Charity in its 30th year. number of different events over the next Having previously run marathons, they twelve months in order to hit my target.” were keen to take on the new challenge As well as cleaning houses in return for of the Great Wall of China Trek. They have donations, Lee’s fundraising events have organised a number of events including included a donation from Noodle Nation a Psychic Evening, Coffee Morning and in Aylesbury – they donated the proceeds sponsored haircuts. from sales of prawn crackers purchased at Chinese New Year!

29 CHALLENGE FUNDRAISING Well done to our 30 in 30 for £30 Challengers!

Ten-year-olds Chloe Pool and Ben Joyce getting ill. It helps a lot of people,” he told us. have shown what children can achieve “The Hospice was built because lots of when inspired by a charity challenge. The people raised hundreds of small amounts two are pupils at George Grenville Academy as well as large ones,” says the Charity’s in Buckingham and heard about Florence Marketing Manager, Kirsty Shanahan. Nightingale Hospice Charity’s 30 in 30 for “Ben and Chloe should be really proud of £30 challenge from their class teacher, who themselves, both for doing the physical asked the children to think about what they challenge and for going out and asking for could do in 30 minutes or 30 days to raise sponsorship, which is not easy.” money for the Hospice. “I don’t even like swimming,” says Ben. “But “I did 37 lengths in 30 minutes,” Chloe said. I thought that the people in the Hospice “My uncle died and Florence helped him don’t like being in pain and if they can put whilst he was poorly so I decided it would be up with it then I can.” a good thing. This challenge is a good thing to do because if your family member ever becomes poorly they might go into there and your money could help them get better.” Ben chose to do a mini-triathlon. “I swam for 30 minutes, cycled for 30 minutes and ran for 30 minutes all because I wanted to help the charity and help the people who are

Mark Cronin Evie Shanahan

FNHC’s website developer, 11-year-old Evie Shanahan from Stoke Mandeville did 30 Mark Cronin of EP sit-ups every day for 30 days to raise funds for Florence Productions, had started Nightingale Hospice in support of the Charity’s “30 in 30 to dread exercise but for £30” campaign, part of the Hospice’s 30th Anniversary found that sticking to his celebrations. target of running 30 mins “I wanted to do this challenge because my mum works for every day for 30 days the Charity and I know the nurses there really help people,” helped him to get back Evie said. “I started thinking I would do 10 into running and enjoy it sit-ups a day, but ended up doing 30! And I again. Well done, Mark! raised £36 in sponsorship thanks to my schoolfriends, family and neighbours who all sponsored me a few pounds each.”

30 Congratulations to our London Marathon runners!

Cosette Dunlop Barbara Leach Time: 5 hrs 28 mins. Amount raised: £1,600. Time: 6 hrs. Amount raised: £856. How it How it felt: “Yesterday was INCREDIBLE! felt: “I loved it. I did not hit the wall, it was There were tough times, emotional times but amazing. I ran with the 545 pacer but lost my amazing cheer squad got me through. him on mile 22. I did 6 hours 11 secs, I The messages, donations I have received on could have come in 10 mins earlier but I the day and today ..wow!!! I actually don’t was enjoying it so much.” know what to say! What a day!”

Dermot Martin Time: 2 hrs 56 mins. Amount raised: £850. How it felt: “It felt amazing as I finished 22 Edward Hart seconds ahead of my previous best time so I was really happy and for the first time (this Time: 4 hrs 32 mins. Amount raised: £1,393. was my 6th marathon) I didn’t immediately How it felt: “The day was overwhelming with say never again! Wonderful atmosphere and support from so many people shouting my great to be part of something so special name. I enjoyed running over Tower Bridge with this year being the year that the London and experiencing the atmosphere which was marathon was expected to beat £1billion for incredible.” all donations since its inception!” 31 DIARY DATES

JUNE Saturday 15 June, 3pm Walton Lodge, Walton St, HP21 7TA Afternoon Bingo Saturday 22 June, from 10pm Aylesbury College, Oxford Road, Aylesbury Midnight Walk

JULY Saturday 6 July Please call Teresa on 01296 429975 for more info Trek Fest - The Beacons Saturday 13 July, from 2.30pm Claydon House, Claydon Estate, Alice in Wonderland , Buckingham, MK18 2EY Saturday 27 July Please call Teresa on 01296 429975 for more info London Triathlon

AUGUST Thursday 29 August, 8am-6pm Weedon Park, Weedon, HP22 4NN Bucks County Show

SEPTEMBER Saturday 28 September Memorial Hall Murder Mystery in Wendover Doors open 6.45pm for 7.15pm Sunday 29 September Hinton Airfield, Brackley Please call eresaT on Skydive for FNHC 01296 429975 for more info OCTOBER

Friday 4 October Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, Exchange Street, Aylesbury Bake Off Aylesbury, HP20 1UG

Saturday 5 October Please call Teresa on 01296 429975 for more info Spartan (Windsor) Thursday 10 October The Dairy at Waddesdon, Aylesbury, HP18 0JW 30th Anniversary Gala Dinner

NOVEMBER Friday 1 and Saturday 2 November Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School, Oxford Road, Aylesbury Beer Festival Aylesbury, HP21 8PE Saturday 16 November, 7.30pm Hawkslade Community Centre Andy Cowie’s Music Quiz Sunday 17 November Holy Trinity Church, Walton Street, Aylesbury Thanksgiving Ceremony Saturday 23 November Walton Lodge, Walton Street, Aylesbury Bazaar

For more information on all our events visit www.fnhospice.org.uk or Facebook @florencenightingalehospice