More than 1,000 cyclists saddled up on Sunday for St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth’s thrilling Tour de Moor challenge across Dartmoor, riding as one to raise funds for the charity’s compassionate end-of-life care.
Community-spirited riders wearing distinctive branded T-shirts, turned the moor blue in support of the vital services St Luke’s provides for local families affected by terminal illness.
It’s a year since St Luke’s b.kinda coffee shop opened its doors in the heart of Plympton and it’s certainly made a strong impression on the local community in those first 12 months.
It’s not just about the excellent coffee and the tempting menu. It’s about the dedicated staff who have made it into an inviting place where every customer feels welcomed, looked after and treated as an important individual.
Every time Harry Stevens and his family drove past the Tour de Moor billboard he would always ask to take part, desperate to join the experienced cyclists as they took on the epic rides across Dartmoor, but always being just a little bit too young for the longer routes.
Finally, for the first time, it is Harry’s time to ride, the now 9-year-old can ride alongside his dad on our adventurer style 28km route on Sunday.
Cycling is a family affair. This is especially true when it comes to Lisa and Dave and their three children who will be getting on their bikes next week for our hospice care.
The family have all signed up to our Tour de Moor on Sunday 13 October and are ready to put their bike skills to the test in memory of Lisa’s grandmother, Marnie.
This will be the second year the family have taken part in our annual cycling challenge on Dartmoor, last year raising £500 for our patient care.
The couple’s three children, Olly, 13, Lucy 11 and Zoe, 8 will be joining their parents on their bikes along with their aunts and uncle and cousin.
“What better way to say thank you than to throw yourself out of a plane?!”
Caitlin Talbot took part in a skydive last month raising more than £1200 for our patient care.
The 21-year-old, from Plymouth, who is currently completing a degree apprenticeship in Quantity Surveying, jumped from 15000 ft in memory of her loved ones.
“St Luke’s is a place that I hold very close to my heart and their mission is one that has supported my family in our hours of need,” she said.
Just like our hospice, good companies recognise the importance of connections and always keeping a compassionate heart for the communities they serve. Last month, it was our great pleasure to welcome representatives from local and regional businesses to the smart, comfortable surroundings of our b.kinda coffee shop* in Plympton for a networking event with a difference, not to mention mouthwatering array of treats!
Over coffee and cake – plus, delicious brownies, buns and flapjacks – familiar faces already generously supporting St Luke’s mingled with ‘newcomers’ finding out about the many facets of our charity for the first time, from patient care to retail, education, fundraising and volunteering.
Award-winning comedian Suzy Bennett and her pub landlord husband Willy Shambrook made a big splash for St Luke’s at their Lido wedding earlier this month, putting hospice care, and the special people the couple have loved and lost, at the heart of a unique ceremony.
Planning the big day, Suzy and her mum, Jean, were browsing a local wedding fair (“just for a laugh and to get free stuff!”) when they spotted the St Luke’s stand and ordered a big batch of our beautiful forget-me-not remembrance pin badges.
At St Luke’s we’re an intentionally inclusive organisation, encouraging and supporting a wide mix of people to feel comfortable and confident to be themselves when they are working or volunteering for us.
As part of this year’s National Inclusion Week – and embracing the retail theme for next week’s Hospice Care Week – we’re shining a light on our charity shops and how our managers welcome and support volunteers with learning disabilities and mental health issues, not only to help them add to their skills and stretch their horizons, but to feel truly valued as members of St Luke’s one big team.
Emotional patient journey inspires Alin’s passion to give back to St Luke’s
Driving a poorly patient on his final journey from home to St Luke’s specialist unit had a deep and emotional effect on Plymouth taxi business owner Alin Turi.
Appreciating for the first time the exceptional service the hospice provides for people at the end of their lives, Alin promised himself that he would support St Luke’s in the future.
Three years later, Alin’s DevonXpress Travel has not only become the chief corporate backer for St Luke’s Sponsor a Nurse campaign, but two per cent of every customer’s fare collected via a special online link will be donated directly to St Luke’s to support patient and family care.
Making a difference – our brand new impact report – is hot off the press and it’s packed with fascinating facts about what St Luke’s has achieved during 2023-4.
Flick through its pages to discover the successes, the challenges, and the passions that drove our staff, volunteers and supporters, day after day, to benefit people in our community who need our compassionate end-of-life care and support.
