Michelle calls for sporting action
(Herald Express 29/6/2006)
by Pete Bennett

GIVE A LITTLE WHISTLE: Hospice Nurse Michelle Clarke from Hemel Hempstead is looking for help from sporty types.

A nurse with first hand experience of what hospice care really means is planning a sporting spectacular to help raise funds for the Hospice of St Francis.

Michelle Clarke, 31, has worked at the Hospice of St Francis for four years and hopes her exciting sports day event in September will bring in some much needed cash.
She said: "I am looking for children and adults to get involved by getting teams to play 5-a-side football, netball and basketball in Boxmoor on Sunday, September 3.
"The sports will all be divided into different age groups for both children and adults with a fee of £10 per individual to enter. It should be a fun day for the whole family."

The Boxmoor Trust, Sportspace and Hemel Hempstead School, who will all be providing facilities on the day, have supported the day.
Michelle said: "There'll be something for everybody with stalls as well as the sport and hopefully we can raise a lot of money for the hospice.
It's going to be a really big event and should be really impressive."
She added: "We want as many people as possible and are also looking for local groups and companies to sponsor the day.
"I want it to be a real family occasion."

Her experiences at the hospice have made Michelle more determined than most to raise as much money as possible to help ensure that the £2.5 million target required to complete the new hospice facility is reached.
She said: "Not everyone gets to say they work with the type of people I do.
"In most jobs you don't get to see such courageous and brave people.
"There are very sad moments, but it's nice that people can die with dignity. We can help people live out their lives in the best way possible. It's not just cancer sufferers and it's not just the elderly, it's from 18-years-old up."

She added that with the new hospice based on one site it would be able to serve the community better. She said: "We have a waiting list at the hospice at the moment, with a bigger hospice we won't have that."
Michelle will be visiting schools in the area to drum up further support for the sports day. She said: "People need to ring up and leave a message and I can get back to let them know how they can get involved. If you can help out as a referee or umpire on the day we need you to get involved as well."

Contact the fundraising team at the hospice in Kings Road on 01442 869550 to register your team, or offer help and find out more about the event.