Wild swimming in Scotland, days out in London and trips to Center Parcs.
At St Luke’s, our staff are very special to us and we felt they deserved a treat. This year all staff members received a day off for their birthday.
Every member of St Luke’s works tirelessly to provide a dedicated service to the local community, whether one of our nurses or behind the scenes as one of our maintenance team, everyone has a key part to play.
To say thank you for their dedication and hard work, staff can take their birthday off and spend it however they choose. We asked some staff members to share how they spent their birthday day off.
“I had my birthday day off in January and got the train to Totnes with a friend. We went to China Blue and painted giant pasta bowls. Then we had a late pub lunch on the main street and eventually got the train home in time for one of my favourite dinners with my family, fajitas!”People Services Administrator Nancy Bennett.
“I use most of my annual leave covering school holidays so having a day that was purely for me was amazing, and felt very decadent. I popped into town, and didn’t have to rush back to the kids, or have them there asking to go to the toy shop. No big exciting event, but it meant so much to me.”HR Manager Caroline Bellamy.
“My birthday fell on the early spring bank holiday Monday in May this year, so I could take another day in place of this. The week before my birthday I went to Centre Parcs at Longleat with my daughter, my sister and her family and my mum. Whilst we were in Longleat it was also my sister’s birthday and my nephew’s birthday two days after mine so we were triple birthday celebrating!”Assistant Accountant Sarah-Jayne Hayne.
“My birthday was in March and I went swimming in the Cromarty Firth (in the Scottish Highlands) with my sister.”Moving and Handling/Ergonomics Adviser Dr Valerie Noble.
“I took the opportunity to spend a long weekend with my best friend in London, watching ‘Back to the Future’ the musical (awesome and incredibly funny), enjoying a high tea at the Claremont hotel at Charing Cross, enjoying delicious Tapas, getting in some retail therapy in Covent Garden and at the outlet shopping mall in O2, rediscovering Camden, commuting on the Thames Clipper (now Uber Boat) and generally enjoying chilling on rooftops and by the river. Thanks St Luke’s, I loved it and it was just what I needed.”Head of Facilities and Maintenance, Louisa Duggan-Smith.
A day off on your birthday is not the only perk for St Luke’s employees. St Luke’s offers an attractive employment package, including seven weeks’ annual leave, pension and membership of a cashback scheme to help towards healthcare costs.
This is just one of the reasons why St Luke’s is an employer of choice. Take a look at our current vacancies and sign up to job alerts to find your next role.
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Whenever you need us, we’ve got you covered. And not just you but the loved ones around you, too.
For Fran, the multicoloured blanket crocheted especially for her beautiful wife Lisa by St Luke’s Specialist Nurse Ali is so much more than just an attractive throw. It perfectly symbolises the warmth and compassion with which Ali and her colleagues looked after Lisa at home in North Prospect before sadly, she died last month. It also encapsulates the loving kindness our team has been wrapping around Fran and the couple’s wider family, too.
When, last July, Lisa received the devastating news that her cancer had returned and the diagnosis was terminal, it was crushing for her, Fran and everyone who loved this brave, caring and spirited lady, including sons Lee and Tony and Lisa’s sister Kerry.
Fran said: “It felt like a scary time, full of uncertainty about how and where Lisa would get the care she so desperately needed, but then St Luke’s got involved. From day one, the team was so friendly and reassuring. They became just like family to us, visiting every day and at the end of the phone whenever they were needed. Ali always answered our questions honestly – just as we wanted – but always with such kindness.
“I knew from its reputation that St Luke’s care would be really good, but their attention to detail is simply phenomenal. They put in a hospital bed so Lisa could be looked after at home, which is what she wanted, and even gave her a pamper day. It meant the absolute world to her to get glammed up with hair, nails and make-up done, feeling more like herself again.
“You only have to see the blanket Ali made for Lisa to know the level of kindness we’re talking about, not only for Lisa but for me, too. I can’t say enough good things about St Luke’s – I just don’t know what we would have done without them.”
When a much-loved person dies, they leave a huge gap in the lives of everyone to whom they meant so much. In the midst of the heartbreak of losing Lisa, Fran is finding comfort in treasured memories of the wife she adored and all the wonderful times they shared over 18 years together.
Fran said: “Lisa and I worked together at Plymouth Community Homes, and we did everything else together, too – gardening, walking, meals out and holidays. Lisa brought me such happiness. I called her my Mary Poppins because she was practically perfect in every way.”
In the week before Lisa died, she and Fran took the courageous step of telling their story in our video, which Lisa’s family has kindly given us permission to share. We are so grateful to them for doing this to shine a light on hospice care and the vital difference it makes to families going through the toughest of times.
Lisa passed away on 6 July knowing Fran and family would be stepping out at our Midnight Walk on 22 July, raising funds to help our team be there for other families at their time of greatest need.
The final word goes to this special lady, whose memory will live on in the hearts of everyone who was privileged to call her family or friend. Before she died, Lisa said: “I couldn’t have got through this without Fran – she is my everything. From my sons to my sister Kerry, my family has been amazing, too.
“I can never say enough thank-yous to St Luke’s for everything they’ve done for us. They showed me it isn’t about dying but about living til the end.”
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If you’re thinking of a midlife career change, there’s a lot to weigh up. But as Sally Hutchings and Kate Hillman – both in their 50s – have shown, it’s never too late to follow your heart!
Having both enjoyed long, fulfilling careers in the police, these inspirational women made the choice re-train rather than retire. Now, they’re part of our dedicated team, where each member is valued as a person and not only for what’s on their CV.
Sally’s story
At 18, it was a strong desire to serve her community that led Sally, now 54, to join Devon and Cornwall Police as a uniformed officer. A successful 30-year career saw her rise through the ranks to Neighbourhood Inspector for Plymouth City Centre and Stonehouse and provide cover for the Chief Inspector for Plymouth.
Sally, who is married with four children and lives in Saltash, said: “I really enjoyed the variety of my police career, but – as I approached 50 – I started to feel it was ‘now or never’ if I was ever going to make the leap into nursing. I’d gained interest in the idea over the years, partly due to the many hospital visits I made with my daughter Jo, who has cystic fibrosis.
“My lightbulb moment came one night when, looking across into another ward, I saw a nurse sitting at the bedside of an elderly man I sensed was dying. I had such a powerful feeling that working in end of life care was where I was meant to be. I could carry on making a difference in my community, but in different way – helping people at the most vulnerable time of all, when what they most need is the reassurance they are not alone and to be treated with sensitivity, kindness and respect.”
Later, a conversation with Ali Griffiths – now Community Nurse Specialist (CNS) at St Luke’s but at that time manager of the ward where Sally’s daughter Jo was receiving her treatment – spurred Sally on to study full time to be a nurse. Sally said: “Ali looked me right in the eyes and said: “It’s not too late – just do it!”.”
Sally first joined St Luke’s at Turnchapel, where we look after our most vulnerable patients. She then went to work at Derriford’s Emergency Department to gain more nursing experience before joining our Hospital team. Soon, she’ll be moving across to our Community team, where – in a wonderful twist of ‘fate’ – her manager will be CNS Ali, who helped inspire her big career change!
Sally said: “Working in the police, I was used to listening to people and having sensitive conversations, and what’s so great about St Luke’s is that they recognise these transferable skills. It isn’t just my nursing degree but my life experience they see as an asset.”
“The greatest gift we can give those in our care is to remember they are people, not simply patients. It’s the little extras, too, like the wedding I helped organise at short notice for a terminally ill lady at the hospital. Seeing what it meant to her and her family felt incredibly special. When time is running short for someone, it is such a privilege to help them feel more comfortable and in control, and to ensure their families have beautiful memories they can treasure for years to come.”
Kate’s story
For former Detective Inspector Kate, who is in her 50s and joined our Urgent Care team as a Healthcare Assistant (HCA) team in May, being in a healthcare environment is in many ways familiar territory. She said: “In the police, I had safeguarding responsibilities for children so often spent time in hospitals, and when my husband became ill and needed to be cared for at Derriford, being there with him really developed my interest in taking up a career in health.”
It was later though, when her father Mark was being looked after at Turnchapel in the last hours of his life, that Kate’s desire to work in hospice care was sparked. She said: “The team was wonderful with my dad, helping him die peacefully and supporting us as a family. It had a really big impact on me. I knew I wanted to help people in the same way.”
Having reached the stage where she could retire from the police, Kate’s journey to follow her dream began when she embarked on a six-month development programme to qualify as an HCA. Happily, she then spotted the job advert for the part-time position she now has with us. She said: “I won’t deny it felt daunting at first, being ‘the new girl’ with so much to learn, but everyone is so friendly and supportive, and I can really feel my confidence growing.
“What I love is that we can spend unhurried time with the people we look after in their own homes, doing whatever is needed to make them comfortable. While ultimately, we can’t change the outcome, there’s a lot we can do to make sure they get back to feeling more like themselves again. I find it incredibly rewarding.
“Though I left the police, all my experience of working with families through such sensitive times came with me to St Luke’s. There’s scope to develop with the hospice, too, so I’m looking forward to spending some time working with the in-patient team soon. That’s the really great thing about stepping outside your comfort zone – the opportunity to keep learning and growing. I’d recommend it to anyone!”
Find out more about working with our dedicated team – directly with patients or more behind the scenes – and check out our latest job vacancies here.
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Fundraising has no age limits for our Tour de Moor
Losing a loved one can be difficult at any age, but especially so for young children. The impact of losing their grandma has spurred on two young fundraisers, who are the latest participants in this year’s Tour de Moor.
After losing their grandma earlier this year, seven-year-old Milo and his five-year-old sister Aurora decided that they wanted to give something back.
Milo and Aurora’s mum, Laura said: “After losing their grandma in May, they came to us and asked if they could take part in this year’s Tour de Moor. St Luke’s came to us in Derriford at the end of mum’s life and I will never forget the support that was shown. They both realised what St Luke’s does as a charity and now want to help give back and help other families.
“They love bike riding and if you know us, you know we ride a lot of miles on our bikes, so we thought why not let the kids do something more challenging for such a great cause.”
The day will be an extra special occasion for Aurora as it will also be her 6th birthday.
If you can support Milo and Aurora in their fundraising journey visit their JustGiving page.
Join the inspirational siblings on your bike in our 40th anniversary year, as Tour de Moor returns on Sunday 9 October. The summer holidays are the perfect opportunity to get those wheels turning as a family in practise for the big day.
Participants in this year’s event, sponsored by Print Copy Scan, can embrace the rugged wilderness of Dartmoor with the choice of three routes, an exhilarating hill-filled 52km of mixed terrain, 30km of tough riding over hills and through woodlands or our gentle family friendly 11km ‘mini moor’. Whether you choose to saddle up alone or with the whole family, the money you raise provides vital funds to make an important difference to people living near you, going through the toughest of times.
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Hundreds of ladies tickled Plymouth pink on Friday night, as they walked across the city to raise vital funds for St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth.
Setting off from Plymouth Argyle’s Home Park stadium, women and children of all ages joined together to celebrate the charity’s 40th anniversary year by taking part in the hotly anticipated mass participation fundraising event, Midnight Walk.
This year’s event saw all ages join together to walk in memory of their loved ones, with the introduction of a brand new QR code trail adding an interactive element to the shorter 2.5 and 5 mile family friendly routes.
Born in the 80’s, celebrate in the 80’s
The theme of the night was 1982, the year the hospice first opened its doors to patients. Four decades later and St Luke’s is still providing compassionate care and support to the terminally ill and their families. For the last 40 years, the charity has held a prominent place in the hearts of many Plymouth families, with Midnight Walk being the perfect occasion to unite in sharing cherished memories.
The 1982 theme proved popular with participants, Kelly Allmett, from Saltash, works at Derriford Hospital in the haematology department. She said:“Born in the 80’s, celebrate in the 80’s. You can see how much loss there is around us, but it is such a supportive, fun environment to celebrate people that we have lost. I lost my sister in December and wanted to do something in her memory for a local charity that does so much for our community.
“St Luke’s plays a massive part at Derriford, they’re not just a place for family and patients, they support everyone around them, providing somewhere for patients to go and be looked after, not only in the last days of their lives but in support of treatment too.”
Samantha Hetherington, from Widewell, said: “It’s nice to get together as a community and support a good charity, cancer touches a lot of people’s hearts, it affects so many of us in different ways. I’d just like to do my bit. I lost my friend Kate 8 years ago, she was only 32, but she died of bowel cancer and last year my dad died from an aggressive form of lung cancer. To be able to walk and remember our loved ones and help those ones that are currently living with it and trying to fight it, means a lot.
“The atmosphere tonight is uplifting, everyone sharing their experiences and being with other people who have shared that grief and maybe even going through it themselves.”
Samantha set herself the challenge of completing the 15 mile walk. She said:“To push through a bit of pain for what people go through is minimal. St Luke’s is iconic, everybody knows what good things St Luke’s does and hopefully we can keep raising money to help them make those people’s lives a little bit better.”
Sponsored by Drakes Jewellers, the annual flagship event saw participants walk either the 2.5, 5, 10 or 15 mile route in memory of lost loved ones, having fun and making new memories as they celebrated the lives of people special to them who will never be forgotten. This year, walkers were invited to bring a copy of a favourite photo of their lost loved one and add it to the charity’s Memory Wall on the night, so that their legacy could live on for all to see.
Michelle Homeyard and her 10-year-old daughter Iyla, from Thornbory, were walking the 2.5 mile route in memory of Iyla’s grandad, John Homeyard. Iyla, who added his photo onto the Memory Wall, said:“My grandad sadly died a couple of months ago from cancer and St Luke’s provided end of life care to him.”
Michelle added: “St Luke’s helped him feel very comfortable near the end and were very supportive of the family. He wanted to be at home, where he was comfortable and around his family, so they came to the house. They made the process, as hard as it is, a bit smoother and easier for him and the family as well, providing us with reassurance.
“A massive thank you to St Luke’s, they do so much. We have a lot of respect for them.”
The pink-clad participants were treated to a fun and energetic warm up by the Plymouth based fitness class Cheezifit before embarking on the walk, which took in landmarks including Smeaton’s Tower and the Barbican.
The money raised through sponsorship by participants helps keep the St Luke’s team on the road 365 days a year, giving their compassionate care to patients in the comfort of their own home and supporting their families. Walkers can pay in their sponsorship money online and see their times here or they can pay it in at one of the St Luke’s charity shops.
Shelley Martin from Weston Mill has been taking part in St Luke’s Midnight Walk for the past decade and this year brought her 12-year-old daughter Shania along.
Shelley said: “It is a humbling and emotional evening, hearing what others have experienced and how St Luke’s have been there for them. St Luke’s are an amazing charity. They were an amazing support to my husband’s family when he lost his uncle and to me when I was losing my god mum and auntie Barbara and just knowing that they were on the end of the phone, that no matter what, meant a lot. I’m in my 40’s and I have never known a Plymouth without St Luke’s.”
Head of Fundraising at St Luke’s, Penny Hannah, said: “We are delighted to bring our Midnight Walk 1982 in 2022 to celebrate 40 years of care for your local hospice. It is such a warm and loving event giving the city the chance to remember their loved ones and make many people proud.
“I would like to thank every single walker for your compassion and kindness. This year we opened the event to younger people, plus we added a wheelchair and push chair friendly route, of 2.5 miles, which has been a popular addition. Our kind sponsor, Drakes Jewellers have been complete diamond supporters, everyone involved from volunteers, to the event village venue Argyle, we could not run this event without their kindness, so thank you.
“The event means we can continue caring for future generations to come at home, in Derriford or our specialist unit at Turnchapel. Thank you again to everyone involved.”
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Thinking outside the box: introducing brand b.kinda
Cheap, trendy and disposable, fast fashion is ruining our planet. Find out how a new venture supporting St Luke’s compassionate care is a style-savvy, purse-friendly way of fighting back.
Since our earliest days, in the 1980s, St Luke’s has been an innovator – a leader rather than a follower in the hospice sector, setting the bar high not only for patient care but in our fundraising, retail operations and the specialist education and training we provide for health and social care professionals, all of which generates vital income for our charity.
Did you know, though, that we also have St Luke’s Ventures (SLV), a trading company we established in order to make profits that support our compassionate care? For example, our popular weekly lottery is part of this. Excitingly, over the past year SLV has been developing a new brand – b.kinda – as you might’ve seen from social media posts about the launch of its ground-breaking, environmentally friendly ‘mystery box’ concept, which having gone live nationwide is already exceeding expectations.
How the b.kinda mystery box works
For a fee of just £15, the concept – believed to be the first of its kind in the country – enables each style-conscious women who signs up via the website at www.bkinda.co.uk to receive four items of high-quality, pre-loved womenswear by post, beautifully presented in an eco-friendly package complete with a handwritten note thanking her for her recycled purchase. The twist is that the items she receives are ‘sight unseen’, having been handpicked for her by the b.kinda team in accordance with the details she provided via a simple questionnaire before placing her order online.
Taking note of her clothing size, the age-range to whose style she gravitates and the colours she does not warm to, the team – Victoria Lammie, Gemma Axworthy and Sharon Clemens, assisted by volunteers – scans rail upon rail of second-hand womenswear options, all of which despite being of excellent quality (many with the tag still on!), have not sold when displayed in our charity shops.
Each b.kinda customer is sent clothes carefully selected for her to love and keep. If, however, there’s an item she decides she doesn’t like, we’re encouraging her to fully embrace the circular economy by clothes swapping with friends or donating the item to charity rather than throwing it away.
So, as our ‘new kid on the block’, just how did b.kinda and our mystery box idea come about? Mike Dukes, Commercial Director at St Luke’s, explains: “As a charity needing to raise millions each year to provide our service for local families, there is no room for complacency when it comes to seeking new ways to help fund what we do. As per St Luke’s strategy, we are constantly assessing the commercial environment around us, keeping an eye on developments that could dent our income as well as scanning the horizon for ways to diversify our income streams so we can channel profits into our hospice care.
“While our network of charity shops continues to generate significant income for St Luke’s, which is really good news, the high level of donations – particularly womenswear – means there simply isn’t enough space to display it all. Over the past five years, we’ve incorporated larger retail premises into our portfolio, but to keep adding more charity shops would simply be too expensive.
“Having already increased with regard to income from our shops and from fundraising, we came up with our mystery box concept because it builds on the recycling we already do so well through selling second-hand goods. As well as being a natural progression, it also provides the opportunity for us to sell donated womenswear nationwide rather than solely on our own patch, greatly increasing our income potential.
“As with any new venture there is always an element of risk, but the mystery box concept is underpinned by our robust market research, which shows that as well as wanting to support a worthy cause by shopping for pre-loved bargains, women who visit charity shops are also motivated by the thrill of ‘the find’. We have gone for a dedicated website rather than listing each item of clothing on our eBay store because with 6,000 donated items of womenswear at any one time, we could never photograph each item, let alone write up the individual descriptions required!
“I firmly believe the timing is right for what we are doing. Due to more people turning to online shopping during the pandemic, they are now far more comfortable purchasing what they need this way. It has become the norm, so it makes good business sense for us to turn this to our advantage. The early signs are really encouraging, but we’re focussing on growing slowly so that we maintain the quality of our offer. The potential is really exciting – over the next five years, our mystery boxes could generate at least half of the retail income we achieve now from shops.”
Taking on an epic challenge in aid of local hospice care
Six big-hearted adventurers from Devon and Cornwall are going further than the extra mile to raise money for St Luke’s by taking on a challenge like no other – they’re going over 5,000 miles!
On Friday 1 July, Jackie Giles and Lewis Philips from Plymouth, Claire Lemasurier from Tavistock, Sophia Wilson from Torpoint, and sisters Chloe Reeves and Holly Fulford from Looe set off on the trip of a lifetime to Malawi in eastern Africa, having already raised more than £28,000 between them for St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth, thanks to sponsorship from family, friends and colleagues.
The group – all of whom are covering the cost of their trip themselves – are determined to raise even more money to help St Luke’s continue its specialist service for local families affected by terminal illness. Pushing themselves mentally and physically, they are doing this by taking on the epic challenge of climbing Malawi’s highest peak, 10,000ft (3,000m) Mount Mulanje, in just three days.
While in Malawi, one of poorest countries in the world, the group will learn about its culture and use their skills to help make a difference by volunteering with local communities, including in schools, children’s centres and hospices.
For Holly Fulford and Chloe Reeves from Looe, taking on the Malawi Challenge for St Luke’s is their way of saying thank-you to us for looking after their mother Beverly with such compassion before sadly, she died in December 2018, aged 59.
Holly said: “Our mum was such a special person, who meant the world to us. She spent the last 11 days of her life at Turnchapel, where not only was she given amazing care, the team made sure we always felt welcome as a family, even letting us stay over with mum.
“St Luke’s helped us all at an unbelievably difficult time so when Chloe and I heard about the Malawi Challenge in aid of the hospice, we leapt at the chance! Doing something epic is our way of giving back to St Luke’s and helping families like our own.”
To raise sponsorship, the sisters organised a dance-a-thon, a jazz day and a collection on the Torpoint Ferry. Chloe said: “I don’t think there’s anything more important than end of life care, and we don’t talk enough about how amazing hospices are.
“Thank you to everyone who has sponsored us. When we reach the top of Mount Mulanje, we’ll be thinking of our wonderful mum.” Sponsor Holly and Chloe
For Sophia Wilson from Torpoint, the Malawi Challenge appeals to her sense of adventure and desire to support a really worthwhile local cause.
Sophia, 33, said: “I’ve always been passionate about Africa, and the opportunity to raise money for St Luke’s by taking on a tough mountain climb was too good to miss!
“As a dietician at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, I work alongside the St Luke’s team that ensures patients with terminal illness receive the bespoke care they need at the end of their lives. It’s given me insight into the vital work of the hospice.
“I’ve put lots into training for the Malawi Challenge, so a huge thank you to everyone who’s got behind me. Every penny of sponsorship raised will help keep St Luke’s doing what they do so well for families across the community.” Sponsor Sophia.
Our thanks to Sophia, Holly, Chloe, Claire, Lewis and Jackie for taking on such an epic challenge, and to every person who has sponsored them. Your kindness counts more than you may ever know!
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St Luke’s goes back to where our retail success began
In our 40th anniversary year, we have cut the ribbon at premises on the same city centre street where we opened our first-ever charity shop nearly four decades ago.
When St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth’s new retail store in New George Street welcomed its first customers on Monday 4 July 2022, it was a case of the present echoing the past. Having launched our very first shop elsewhere on the same road in the 1980s, our charity has come full circle back to where its retail success began.
Located between Greggs bakery and the large corner unit that formerly housed Poundland, our new St Luke’s shop is stocked with good quality, pre-loved homeware, including cushions, curtains, throws, glassware and crockery – the kind of items that have been much harder to find in the city centre since the closure of department stores such as Debenhams and British Home Stores. Also on sale are clothes, books and bric-a-brac all donated by our St Luke’s supporters.
Mike Picken, Head of Retail at St Luke’s said: “Opening a new charity shop highlighting our trusted brand in – or near – one of the communities where we deliver our care is always exciting, but the launch of our latest store feels extra special.
“Back in the late 1980s, we opened our first shop to help generate more income to support St Luke’s compassionate care. We’d been deluged with items donated by a community who’d taken the hospice to their hearts. Ever since then, donations have remained high and our customer base loyal because people recognise their support benefits families in their own local area right when they need help most.”
“Our New George Street shop complements our existing outlets in the city centre – Drake, where the focus is on higher-end ladies’ clothes, and Toys R Us, which is very popular for second-hand furniture.”
At the helm of our New George Street store is Manager Julie Bickford, who previously managed St Luke’s Drake City Centre shop. She said: “Ever since we opened on Monday, there’s been a real buzz because we’ve been busy serving St Luke’s regular customers as well as welcoming new faces as word about the store spreads. What we need, though, are more volunteers to help us keep everything running smoothly in store.
“Whether you can give a day of your time each week or just a few hours, it will be so appreciated. You’ll be part of a friendly team making a vital difference with one of our city’s most respected charities.”
St Luke’s New George Street shop is open Monday to Saturday, 9.30am to 5pm, and on Sundays from 10am to 4pm. Anyone interested in volunteering there should call our volunteer services team on 01752 401172 or email volunteer@stlukes-hospice.org.uk
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Get on your bike in St Luke’s 40th anniversary year, for an exciting challenge in aid of compassionate care and support that positively impacts families affected by terminal illness.
Our popular Tour de Moor biking challenge returns to the rugged wilderness of Dartmoor on Sunday 9 October. Sponsored by Print Copy Scan, a local supplier of printers and copiers, we will be offering cyclists an adrenalin-packed adventure: a hill-filled, 52km mixed terrain route of mud, sweat and gears all in aid of St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth. Cycling at its fiercest for those aged 12 and above!
Alternatively, participants of 9 years or older can take it down a gear and saddle up for 30km of tough riding over hills and through woods, and there’s also the ‘mini moor’, a gentle 11km ride along the tarmac paths of Drake’s Trail that’s suitable for all the family.
Not only does Tour de Moor cater for all cycling abilities, it also raises vital funds for the specialist care we provide for patients and ensures they can make precious memories with loved ones in their final months, weeks and days. Funds raised will also help us to continue to provide essential bereavement support for patients’ family and friends.
Having welcomed our first patients to Syrena House in Plymstock in 1982, today we care for patients in their own homes, at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust and at our specialist unit at Turnchapel. Our critical service runs 365 days a year, covering Plymouth, South West Devon and East Cornwall.
Penny Hannah, Head of Fundraising at St Luke’s, said: “If ever there was a time to get on your bike to help keep the wheels of our specialist service turning, it’s this one – our charity’s 40th anniversary year.
“Over the four decades since St Luke’s began, it has been our privilege to have made a difference to many hundreds of local families. So, if someone special to you was looked after by our team, taking on the challenge of Tour de Moor is a fantastic way to pay tribute to them.
“Regardless of your motivation for participating though, our epic event is a great combination of fitness and muddy fun. With three classic routes to choose from, it’s ideal for families as well as more experienced cyclists who really want to push themselves.
“Every hill climb will be worth the extra effort because the sponsorship money Tour de Moor raises is needed more than ever to help St Luke’s meet the rising demand on our service. We want to be here for the next 40 years – and beyond – to ensure that no-one in the local area misses out on the high-quality care they need, and deserve, at the end of their lives.”
Director of Print Copy Scan, Karl Welburn, said, “St Luke’s has given four decades of superb service, helping local families who rely on the team’s care and support at the toughest time of their lives, but as a community we must never take what the charity provides for granted.
“We’re proud to sponsor Tour de Moor again, especially with this year being the 40th anniversary of the hospice. All the money raised by those taking part goes directly to bespoke care for terminally ill people living in the local area.”
The Tour de Moor challenge departs from 8.30am at Harrowbeer Airfield, near Yelverton, and finishes there.
Sign up for the challenge here. Registration costs £35 for the 52km or 30km route, and £15 for the 11km route.
https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Tour-de-Moor-2022-Blog-Header.jpg7731030Gabby Notthttps://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/stlukeslogo.gifGabby Nott2022-06-30 19:00:512022-07-06 17:10:03BLOG: Tour de Moor, the South West’s boldest charity cycling challenge returns for 2022
When you have two tickets to the Platinum Party at the Palace who do you choose to give them to? Our longest serving member of staff of course!
Today marks an amazing 34 years of our Support Officer Andy Campbell’s dedication to St Luke’s and when we were kindly gifted two party tickets to our frontline workers, we knew exactly who they should go to.
“It was a real honour and privilege to have the opportunity to go,” Andy said. “I feel very lucky to work at St Luke’s and am honoured to be able to look after the patients, families and staff in the way I do.”
When Andy Campbell first joined St Luke’s 34 years ago it was as a Healthcare Assistant, a role he later combined with his job as Support Officer, until five years ago when he decided to focus on the latter, securing the building after the ‘day’ staff have gone home and doing much more besides.
Not only does Andy cover reception duties at Turnchapel during his regular evening shift, taking calls and greeting visitors, he ensures that both individuals and entire families spending time with their loved ones are comfortable, recognising that it’s often the ‘small’ things that can make a big difference to them at such a sad time.
“The key thing I appreciate about working at St Luke’s is having the time to do a job properly,” said Andy. “I can often be with a patient for a whole shift if they need me and give them the time they deserve, which I know would be very different in another healthcare setting.
“Things have changed a lot over the past 34 years, but what has never changed is the approach to the patients. Being thoughtful and kind doesn’t cost us anything, but it can be priceless to the families we help. There’s not many people that can say they love coming to work each day, but I do.”
It was this constant thoughtfulness that made it an easy decision to send Andy up to London to enjoy a night off and celebrate in style at the much sought-after Platinum Party at the Palace.
The event, which took place at Buckingham Palace, featured performances from a wide variety of musicians including Queen and Adam Lambert, Andrea Bocelli, Duran Duran, Diana Ross and George Ezra all performing their biggest hits in a star-studded tribute to Her Majesty’s unprecedented anniversary.
The evening pivoted around global themes that have been born, or evolved, during the breadth of Her Majesty’s reign due to British and Commonwealth contributions including Fashion, Sport, The Environment, 70 Years of Pop Music and Musicals.
Highlights of the momentous evening for Andy were the vocal talents of Andrea Bocelli and Diana Ross.
Steve Statham, Chief Executive of St Luke’s, said: “Andy has given so much to St Luke’s these last 34 years and for that we are truly grateful.
“He has been a constant for so many over the past three decades, especially family members visiting our specialist unit. He goes above and beyond to ensure they are looked after during what can be an extremely emotional time.
“This was the perfect opportunity to thank Andy for all he has done over the years. It is people like him who enable us to continue to support patients and families that need us, helping to make such a difficult time that little bit easier.”
If you are interested in joining the St Luke’s team then check out our current vacancies.
https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Andy-Jubilee-BLOG.png7731030Gabby Notthttps://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/stlukeslogo.gifGabby Nott2022-06-10 16:00:512022-06-10 17:30:07BLOG: A royal celebration to mark 34 years
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