Volunteers are a unique breed. They do what they do out of the generosity in their hearts, giving their time for free to help others. This coming week is Volunteers’ Week (2-8 June), a chance to recognise and shine a light on the wonderful volunteers that shape our services. Our volunteers come from all walks of life, they bring with them passion and a diverse multitude of skills, whether they are working in our shops, at our flagship events or at our specialist unit at Turnchapel.
A spectacular lighthouse art trail is set to brighten the streets of Plymouth in 2026, uniting the community through creativity while raising much-needed funds and awareness for the compassionate end of life services St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth provides for patients and their loved ones.
St Luke’s Guiding Lights promises to be one of Devon’s most ambitious, must-see, family-friendly events for next summer. It will run for 10 weeks, culminating in a grand auction of the striking exhibited sculptures to the highest bidders.
Highly skilled, kind and present even when situations are heartbreaking or difficult, our nurses are a special breed. We appreciate them every day, and this International Nurses Day (12 May), we want to say an extra-big thank you to them for everything they do in, and for, our community.
We spoke to St Luke’s Community Nurse Specialist Sonja Hambly about her role and what motivates her to work in an environment many would shy away from, perhaps perceiving it as too tough on their emotions.
For many, death is a taboo subject, avoided and dodged until it happens to you. This week is Dying Matters Awareness week (5-11 May), an opportunity to open up conversations about death and dying and break down the taboos surrounding it.
The theme this year is ‘The Culture of Dying Matters’, focusing on how different communities and cultures in the UK feel, talk about, and deal with death and dying – and what brings them together. Our Digital Communications Specialist Gabby Nott has been exploring the idea of death across cultures in our local community.
Runners across Plymouth will be lacing up for St Luke’s on Sunday 11 May as they get ready to take to the streets of Plymouth for Run Plymouth’s half marathon, 10km and 5km at Britain’s Ocean City Running Festival. We will be meeting some of the runners who will be taking on the challenge in aid of St Luke’s as they share their stories.
Getting married and giving birth are milestones in our lives that we always imagine our parents will be around to witness.
For Emma Fleming-Cooney, it was thanks to the comforting care of St Luke’s that enabled her mum Trisha Hilton to be able to watch her as she said I do to her now husband Thomas and meet her baby boy.
This summer Emma is embarking on an epic challenge of walking 300 miles in memory of her mum and as a way of saying thank you to St Luke’s for the care the family received.
Taimur Huq was a man who lived life to the full and inspired countless people to do the same. Not even a terminal diagnosis and being reliant on an oxygen tank 24 hours a day stopped him setting and achieving new goals.
An enthusiastic and loyal champion of St Luke’s Men’s Day Out for the past ten years, the former Maths teacher and outdoor education mentor was determined to take part in last weekend’s charity walk through the city, even though he would need to ride on his mobility scooter.
Sadly, Tay died just six days before the flagship annual event, but the success of his mission to raise funds so that others can experience the compassionate care St Luke’s offered him and his family during the last months of his life has now gone way beyond his wildest dreams.
An incredible 2,500 men took to the streets of Plymouth on Saturday, striding out to honour their much-missed loved ones and show their support for the independent charity that provides specialist end of life care for local families.
Sunny skies made an unexpected appearance as the biggest gathering yet of big-hearted chaps of all ages turned out for St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth’s Men’s Day Out, setting off from Plymouth Albion rugby ground at Devonport to walk 12km along the waterfront and through the city – a reversal of the route to ring the changes for regular participants.
A half marathon is a major challenge for the majority of us, however one of our supporters has decided to take on six in six weeks all in memory of her cousin Toby.
Danielle Parkes (or Danni as she is known to many) will be running six different half marathons over six weeks all in memory of her 23-year-old cousin Toby Brann, who died almost a year ago. In his final weeks Toby was cared for by our St Luke’s at home team, giving him the opportunity to make lasting memories with his loved ones, including granting his wish of watching his home team Plymouth Argyle play at home against Ipswich.
