Registered Charity No. 275913 LIVINGWITH DIGNITY SPRING 2019 Our news for our supporters AJOANNE'S wife, mother and teacher whose STORY inspiring story features in our spring appeal - read about her on page 5. SNOOKER LOOPY FOR THE CHARITY STARTS AT HOME HOSPICE Weston Homes is making a difference to the Snooker legend Steve Davis has become a community by pledging £100,000 for the Patron of our Hospice next three years NEW WANSTEAD STORE 26.2 MILE CHALLENGE Our latest store opened on Wanstead High The London Marathon is world famous but it Street by local dignitaries also generates vital income Welcome to your spring edition of Living With Dignity magazine, our first of 2019! Top L-R: Pam Court with Dennis Rensch MBE, Deputy Lieutenant of Essex at our Light Up a Life service at Brentwood Cathedral; Jane Frame, Lady Hilkka Brooking, Julia Hartley-Brewer, Anne Bender and Pam Court at the Ladies Lunch; snooker legend and new Hospice Patron Steve Davis with Pam Court. I’d like to take this opportunity to say a Happy New recently joined us in 2014. Both are incredibly passionate Year to you all, and extend my sincerest thanks for your and have a lot to offer so we’re excited about moving our ongoing support of our Hospice. Thanks to supporters Hospice forward with their support. like you, we’re confident that 2019 will be a fantastic year that sees our Hospice services continue to provide Our events are undergoing a review at the moment, assistance to patients, and their families and friends, both with our Fundraising team looking at a 24-month cycle at the Hospice and in the community. to ensure that the events we’re offering to you, our supporters, are relevant, fresh and fun. I’m really looking We launched our new Buddy Scheme at the end of forward to the Big Orange Quiz in March, taking place at 2018, a volunteer-led provision that aims to help carers the City Pavilion in Collier Row this year. We have seven who may be socially isolated, lonely, low in confidence of the BBC’s Eggheads confirmed as attending which is or who are recently bereaved. Visiting the carer wonderful as they help out quizzers on the night, for a regularly in their own home, the Buddy may support small fee! with general household tasks, accompany the carer to appointments or simply enjoy a conversation over a cup Two new stores have opened in the past couple of of tea or coffee. The aim is to help the carers, who so months – one in Wanstead and a short-term pop-up often dedicate their lives to supporting someone and shop in Barking – which you can read about on page 7. in the process lose their own identity, to become more Corporate support continues to be strong for our charity, independent and help connect with local support services with Colas Rail and Weston Homes both making a huge or groups. difference to us in recent months, but individual support also remains incredible. Read about the families of Ken We also saw some changes in our Board structure last Davies and Paula Moore on page 8 who have raised over year, when Dr Robert Weatherstone stepped down from £8,000 for us, in their memory. his role after nine years in post as Chairman. While we’re delighted that Bob has agreed to stay on as a Hospice I want to say a huge thank you for your interest in our Trustee, we’re really pleased to welcome Peter Crutchett Hospice and its services. It is only with your support of as our new Chairman and Paul Gwinn as Vice Chairman. our work, and your support through fundraising, that we Both have been Trustees of the Hospice - Peter, who can continue providing outstanding care to your friends has also been Vice Chairman, since 2005 and Paul more and family in our local communities. Pam Court, CEO Cirrhosis and Non Alcohol related symptoms until the damage to the Cirrhosis can affect anyone – men steatohepatitis (NASH) Cirrhosis liver is very serious. Cirrhosis can and women, young and old. Risk In our previous edition, we featured lead to liver failure. No one knows factors include: a story about Barbara Claydon. Mrs for sure how many people in the UK • long-term liver infection such as Claydon suffered from diabetes and have cirrhosis as most people do not Hepatitis B or C it is this that, over years, caused know they have it until the condition • inherited liver disease her to develop non-alcohol related is serious. However there is no doubt • immune system problems that steatohepatitis (NASH) cirrhosis. that the number of people with the leads to liver disease such as condition continues to increase. primary biliary cirrhosis Cirrhosis of the liver is a condition • being overweight or have a where the liver is seriously damaged Every year over 4,000 people in the condition, such as diabetes, which and is not able to function normally. UK die from cirrhosis. Around 700 makes them more susceptible to It can take many years to develop, people have to have a liver transplant fatty liver and there may well be no noticeable each year to survive. • drinking too much alcohol. 2 | LIVING WITH DIGNITY | Spring 2019 www.sfh.org.uk NEWS | A QUICK UPDATE GARDEN RECEIVES A £40,000 MAKEOVER “This work carried out by Colas Rail, “Every year we nominate a good BPH Rail and High Motive would have cause and I suggested Saint Francis cost the Hospice £40,000 and we Hospice because I know about the are incredibly grateful for this fantastic wonderful work it does for patients support,” said Corporate Partnerships and their families as my aunt and Manager, Tom Murtagh. cousin’s husband were cared for by the charity,” said Office Manager “They have completely transformed a Theresa Weal. slightly tired area of the garden and this means that patients and families Assistant Project Manager David Staff from railway engineering firm are able to continue to enjoy our McCann added, “No one knows when Colas Rail took time away from the beautiful grounds. they may need the support of the track to volunteer their time and Hospice and this is something little we expertise in our gardens. “The support we receive from the can do that will make a big impact.” business community is so important Over 40 staff spent two days laying to us and means we are able to deliver pathways, building furniture, painting the outstanding care given by our tables and benches and de-weeding nurses to those who need it.” the Hospice’s award-winning gardens in October. The national company has offices and staff working on railways across the Staff from neighbouring companies country and it was the Brentwood BPH Rail and High Motive joined office who initially got in touch with them in lending their time and the Hospice to see what they could to Colas Rail volunteers painting fence panels equipment. help. Joshua, who is a Sports Host on RADIO PRESENTER'S Phoenix FM on Saturdays from MARATHON 3pm -6pm. CHALLENGE “The atmosphere is absolutely electric. The London Marathon is world I’ve been overtaken by fridges and famous but it also generates vital people dressed in so many different income, and over the past five Joshua Fowler costumes. years, it has helped to raise almost £475,000 for the Hospice. “Growing up in Dagenham, I have “There’s an incredible sense of always known about the Hospice and community around the streets of Joshua Fowler was incredibly lucky the huge pressure it is under to raise London as people are playing music, to secure a ballot place in the 2019 the funds it needs. shouting your name and handing you London Marathon - with more than sweets.” 414,000 applying for just 17,500 “Whatever little I can do to help raise guaranteed places. awareness, and funds, will be a drop If you have a ballot place, we’d in the ocean compared to what it love you to be part of #TeamSFH. And he wanted to make the experience deserves." In return for your fundraising on Sunday 28th April even more efforts, you’ll be given support from memorable by raising money for the This will be Joshua’s second time our dedicated running experts, charity that cared for his Great Nan running the iconic event and he is fundraisers and fellow Jane Murphy, before she died in 2008. clearly excited about the challenge #TeamSFH runners. ahead and the medal that awaits! “My Great Nan spent her final days To find out more about joining at Saint Francis Hospice and I still “The excitement starts from waking #TeamSFH, contact our Events remember the overwhelming sense up early, getting to the train station Manager Chris Franklin on of calmness and everyone being very where the only people on the platform 01708 753319 ext 2236 or email lovely when I went to visit her,” said are those running and getting to [email protected] Joshua, who lives in Brentwood. Blackheath where it starts,” said www.sfh.org.uk Spring 2019 | LIVING WITH DIGNITY | 3 FEATURE | KEEP ON GIVING 35 YEARS OF AMAZING LEGACY GIFTS MAKING A DIFFERENCE Miss Kay Miller left a generous gift of £350,000 in her Will when she HELP US CELEBRATE died in 2013, which helped to fund OUR BIRTHDAY our day services in Pemberton Place, This year our Hospice turns 35. providing patients with access to our Since our doors opened in 1984, health and social care professionals we have provided support both and all our therapy services.