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The Hospice publishes a bi-annual Newsletter and also an Annual Review. However, it is recognised that neither of these publications can fully serve an organisation such as St. Francis or hope to keep the world outside fully informed of the constantly changing situations and developments with which we deal. Hopefully, this page can fulfil that deficiency by being an On-line Newspaper and provide you with up-to-date news concerning St. Francis.
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CHECK OUT FOR HOSPICE
 
Shoppers from the Hospice of St Francis put a large cheque for £2300 into their shopping trolley when they popped into Waitrose Chesham to meet fundraisers who had taken part in the Walk with the Stars event.
A team of 12 ladies from the supermarket took part in the challenging charity walk in June, organised by the Hospice which professional support and care for people with terminal illness across West Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire and relies on donations to support its day care, home care and family support.
The Hospice supports an area including Chesham, Amersham and surrounding towns with a free service and helps more than 800 people a year.
It costs more than £3million to provide services with only 19 per cent of funding from the NHS.
Organiser of the fundraising Walk with the Stars Event, Fran Martin (pictured pushing trolley) said: "The support that Waitrose give us is phenomenal and we are so proud of our lovely walkers. They really go the extra mile for us. "We are delighted that Waitrose will be supporting us again in December with our Santa Dash and want to thank all their staff for their continued generosity."
Pictured(in the trolley)are Angela Harman and the Chesham Waitrose Walkers being pushed by Fran Martin.
For more information please contact Claire de Silva, PR Officer Hospice of St Francis on 01442 869555
FULL STEAM AHEAD FOR THE HOSPICE
STEAM powered engines, a tractor, coach and a parade of vintage cars were the unusual mode of transport used to drop off a cheque for £6000 to fundraisers at the Hospice of St Francis in Berkhamsted.
Around 15 enthusiasts from The Dacorum Steam and Machinery Preservation Group motored up the driveway to meet Hospice staff after collecting cash from a steam rally held at Green Croft Barn, Potten End in July.
Proceeds from the steam fayre, which featured helicopter rides, fairground rides, vintage vehicle displays and stalls, will go directly to the Hospice for much needed funds.
Community Fundraising Manager Harriet Karia said: “We are delighted with the fantastic amount which has been collected as it will really make a huge difference.
“It’s not everyday we get to see a collection of such unusual vehicles coming along the driveway here and it has been a real treat for everyone.
“If anyone would like to organise an event for us please do get in touch.”
FIRESTARTERS HOT FOOT IT FOR HOSPICE
DO you have a burning desire to walk on fire? Then hot foot it across a bed of sizzling coals and help raise cash for charity in the latest fundraiser for the Hospice of St Francis in Berkhamsted.
Impress your friends, family and colleagues by walking barefoot across a 20ft stretch of red-hot coals guided by the firewalk experts, Time for Change.
The company, which has a 100 per cent safety record, will help participants perform the ultimate feat.
Harriet Karia, community fundraising manager, said: “Last year’s we had a wonderful turn out and are hoping this year will be as good.
You get such a sense of achievement from taking part – it’s not every day you get the chance to walk on fire!”
Vijay Sharma, The Watermill Hotel manager, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the Hospice with this event and hope lots of people will take part in the challenge. It’s a great opportunity to test your bravery, safely and do something for charity!”
If you have a burning desire to walk on fire , call Harriet on 01442 869555 or e-mail firewalk@stfrancis.org.uk
The event takes place at 6pm at The Watermill Hotel, Bourne End, Hemel Hempstead on Thursday November 13th.
Entry is just £30 to secure your place and you will need to raise a minimum of £200 sponsorship.
The Hospice of St Francis provides professional support and care for people with terminal illness in the local community. By taking part in this event and raising sponsorship, you will help ensure that the Hospice is able to provide essential care for future patients and their families.
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HO HO HO for the Hospice of St Francis!
CHRISTMAS has come three months early at the Hospice of St Francis in Berkhamsted where staff and volunteers are busy kicking off their new fun festive fundraiser - Hemel Hempstead’s first ever Santa Dash.
People of all ages, shapes and sizes, even the family dog, can register to take part in the Santa dash - a two and a half mile run, walk, jog, skip or sleigh through the streets of the town centre dressed up in a free supplied Santa outfit.
The festive fun takes place on Sunday December 7th and everyone who takes part can collect sponsors to raise cash for the charity.
Everyone at work, at home and at school can get involved and in the festive spirit.
Registration costs just £15 for adults and £5 for kids or £35 for a family (2 adults and up to 3 children including the dog).
Organiser Fran Martin said: “This is all about fun – it’s a great way to do something entertaining as a family and raise money for the Hospice at the same time. It’s the first time we have organised an event like this and the first time that Hemel will have seen hundreds of Santas running through the town! We want everyone to get involved and make this a Christmas moment to remember.
“We are delighted to have the Snow Centre on board as our main sponsors along with Premier Inn Central who are giving away a free bacon buttie and a cuppa to all Santa dashers.”
Stephen Jordan, Technical Operations Director, said: “Supporting the Hospice of St Francis’ Santa Dash is a perfect fit for the Snow Centre and as Britain's premier indoor snow sports destination we are delighted to be involved from the start. It would be great to see this event snowball and raise much needed funds for the Hospice.”
Call Fran Martin on 01442 869555 or email fran.martin@stfrancis.org.uk now for your Santa pack and dash for cash for the Hospice of St Francis.
HERTS based BBC Radio 2 broadcaster and former Wham backing singer, Janey Lee Grace will be helping to spread the message about hospice care next month.
 The author, who presents with Steve Wright on his afternoon show, will be speaking at an event held at Berkhamsted Civic Centre.
Meet Janey, along with representatives from the Hospice, on Monday October 13th from 7pm, as they host a lively and informative evening of chat, debate and information, helping people think more about their futures, to talk more positively about dying and caring for people who are seriously ill.
Ros Taylor, Hospice Director, said: “We want to do more to bring the Hospice of St Francis message to a greater audience across the county and spread the word about our work at this informal evening of lively chat, powerful debate and provocative conversation. We are delighted to have Janey Lee Grace joining us and there will be a chance to meet her, have a chat and enjoy a glass of wine and nibbles.”
For more information please contact 01442 869555 and ask for Claire de Silva |
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Motty draws the lucky jackpot winner in The Hospice Lottery Superdraw
 John Motson OBE the BBC’s voice of football was guest of honour at The Hospice Lottery’s annual Superdraw which took place on Wednesday 10th September at Grove House in St Albans.
Even with John Motson’s extensive career in the world of football the actual winners couldn’t be predicted but a draw was guaranteed.
Mr Motson got the ball rolling and took great delight in drawing the £5000 winning ticket belonging to a local man from Aylesbury. The winner a long standing supporter of Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity, another hospice in the partnership, couldn’t believe it when he received a phone call from John Motson to tell him that he had won the top prize. He was absolutely delighted to be supporting the wonderful work of his local hospice and is now looking forward to sharing his winnings with his family.
A total of £8000 was given away in prize money with further winners being drawn by the Mayor of St Albans Bert Pawle.
The Hospice Lottery is committed to providing a secure and predictable income to each of their 7 hospice partners including The Hospice of St Francis in Berkhamsted. The 2008 Superdraw has raised a grand total of £84,000. This is a fantastic amount which will provide an important financial contribution towards rising hospice running costs.
Over the ten years The Hospice Lottery Partnership has been trading over £2.6 million has been distributed back to the partner hospices.
Although most of the income raised comes from the weekly draw, the annual Superdraw has become an increasingly powerful way of raising additional income.
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THE FAMILY of a young skiing instructor who died after suffering from a brain tumour for seven months have already raised more than £22,500 for the hospice who cared for him, via an online blog of his story.
Ali Rainback, 37, from Wheathampsted was diagnosed with a brain tumour last November and died at the Hospice of St Francis in Berkhamsted on June 22nd.
 Read full Press Release here
SUN WORSHIPPERS are certain to be basking in sunshine in July and August according to predictions from two of the UK’s most famous weather experts. |
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Former BBC, BBC Radio Five and BBC London weather man and broadcaster John Kettley and Berkhamsted-based meteorologist Brian Gaze are backing the latest campaign to raise cash for the Hospice of St Francis by predicting their own BBQ Index.
Read full Press Release here
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PHOTO OPPORTUNITY – THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION FOR VOLUNTEERS
MORE than 650 hard-working volunteers who give up their time to tirelessly support The Hospice of St Francis will be thanked in a special afternoon celebration to be presented by television presenter Pam Rhodes.
Read full Press Release here
FUNDRAISERS organising the annual Hospice of St Francis Walk with the Stars event are delighted to reveal that so far £185,000 has been raised by walkers from across Hemel, Berkhamstead and beyond.
Read full Press Release here
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June 2008
£170k MIDNIGHT WALKERS RAISE CASH FOR HOSPICE
 More than 1, 300 women dressed in bright pink T shirts determinedly walked 13 miles through the dark streets of Hertfordshire at midnight on Saturday night (21st June ) despite the rain to raise vital funds for The Hospice of St Francis.
Female groups of friends, work colleagues, individuals and family members from St Albans, Chesham, Amersham, Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted and surrounding towns, many of whom have experienced the care the Hospice has given, joined in to take the challenge, some not hanging up their trainers until after 4.30am
Urged on by each other – and a piping hot bacon buttie at the finish line – walkers had time to hear each other’s stories, keep entertained and even take advantage of a hot cuppa handed out by people from houses along the route.
All have been touched in some way by the care the Hospice gives - many walk in memory of loved ones and many want to give something back to the carers who help make the last days of life more comfortable
Fran Martin, event organiser, said: “We’ve had a fantastic event and are delighted that so many people have dedicated their time and energy to the Hospice of St Francis.
"Events like these can only be successful with the commitment and dedication of a large number of people, including our team of over 100 Marshals and 60 Volunteers who gave up their precious time, together with many local businesses and organisations who have sponsored our event.
“In particular I'd like to thank Miss Sandra Samwell, Headteacher of The Hemel Hempstead School, for allowing us to use the school premises as well as a team of dedicated school staff, managed by Judith and Sally, who tirelessly spend the whole evening preparing, cooking and serving 2000 bacon butties.
“Without facilities such as Hemel Hempstead School, we wouldn't have been able to increase our walker numbers and therefore wouldn't have raised as much money, so The Hospice of St Francis is indeed very grateful.
 “Finally, thank you to the 'Stars' of the night, our lovely Walkers, what a fantastic bunch of ladies who between them have raised a substantial amount of much needed funds.”
Ros Taylor, Hospice Director told the eager walkers just moments before midnight: “Everyone is here for very personal reasons but primarily because you care about how people who are seriously ill are cared for too. Thank you all so very much.”
The date for next year’s event has already been decided – June 20th!
Keen walkers can register their interest for 2009 at www.walkwiththestars.org.uk
The Hospice of St Francis is the only unit of its kind which provides professional support and care for people with terminal illness across West Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
It relies on donations to support its purpose built bedded unit, day care, home care and family support service that is vital to the people cared for there each year. The Hospice supports a catchment area of 300,000 people.
Each year the free services provided by the Hospice of St Francis help more than 800 people with terminal illness across the West Hertfordshire and Bucks area, as well as supporting their friends and families.
It costs more than £3m a year to provide our services, but only 19 per cent of this figure comes from the NHS, so the Hospice is reliant on the goodwill of its community, including the Walk with the Stars walkers, to keep on providing their care.
Key facts:
- The average stay at St Francis is 8 days – 60 per cent of patients then go home to continue their treatment. A hospice isn’t always the end of the road.
- From small beginnings in 1979 the Hospice has developed its services to provide total care every step of the way. We have built a new hospice to give our care to more people and we urgently need to raise funds to keep our services running.
- Each bed costs nearly £100,000 to open and run in the first year- just £12 a month would pay for 2 medical oxygen tanks, £100 a month would pay for one specialist nurse for one day.
- Our running costs in 2008 will be £3.3m and we continue to need funds.
There are on average 130 patients being cared for at home by our specialist nurse team.
- We have 700 volunteers who help us in all aspects of the hospice in the kitchen, in the units, with family support, gardening, fundraising, in the shops, in the offices.
- The Hospice of St Francis makes no charge for any of its services.
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November 2007
 There was a buzz of excitement at the Hospice of St Francis when it got the royal seal of approval from His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent on Friday (November, 9).
The Queen's cousin officially opened the £6.4million building which welcomed its first patients earlier this year.
Photo Gallery
The HeraldExpress even wrote an article describing the day
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June 2006
On 11th June over 100 walkers strode out from London to Berkhamsted to raise funds for the new Hospice.
Click on the thumbnails for some images in their full glory:
The HeraldExpress even wrote an article describing the day
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April 2006
St. Francis on the radio. Revisit an interview by Ian Pearce of Three Counties radio when he talks to Dr. Ros Taylor, Kimberley McLaughlin and Rev. Liz Hughes as part of a 'Dying on Air' series.
Listen to the broadcast here (.mp3 format)
Read the full article here
The above audio file is in .mp3 format. A suitable player can be downloaded from the Microsoft web site.
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January 2006
Click here to view the the winners of our 'Design your own Outfit' competition held in January 2006.
Read more here..... |
Thursday 25 November
In the first seven weeks of the Appeal in the local newspapers, the Gazette and HeraldExpress, the local community has supported the Capital Appeal to the tune of £114,211. Don’t forget to follow hospice news each week in the newspapers and online at www.hemelonline.co.uk where you will also find the Dig Deep donation form. We still have a long way to go, so every penny counts
Read more here.....
To keep up with all the news from the DIG DE£P Appeal read the Gazette (published every Wednesday) or visit their website www.hemeltoday.co.uk.
The Gazette has also set up a Hospice page on their website.
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Monday 14 November
Blessing of the Source of the Water
When work began at the site back in May, we had no water, and water had to be delivered each week at a cost of £2,000. Negotiations were underway to have water piped to the site through the local water company, but at a huge cost, in excess of £200,000. During the regeneration work below ground it was decided to bore down to see if there might be water. At 70 metres water was found, enough, for the construction work, and hopefully for the new hospice for many years to come.
A ceremony took place to bless the source of the water, led by the Venerable Helen Cunliffe, Archdeacon of St Albans. It was a truly multi-faith occasion with representatives from local Christian, Jewish, Hindu and Muslim communities.
A two-hour programme on all aspects of hospice life was broadcast live from the site on BBC Three Counties radio.
Listen to the broadcast here
Read the Gazette article here
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Tracing the Rainbow, a book of poetry in aid of the Hospice.
Anne Adams a volunteer at the Hospice wanted to do something to help raise money for the Capital Appeal. She began writing poetry at school and has latterly taken it up again, building up quite a collection.
Read more here.....
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Raise your voice for hospice care
On Saturday 8 October at 7 pm at St John’s Church, Boxmoor, Joyful Noise, Belswain’s Primary School, Leverstock Green C of E Primary School, Nash Mills C of E Primary School, South Hill Primary School, Christine and Sarah, and Anne Adams will perform for The Hospice of St Francis as part of Voices for Hospices.
Voices for Hospices, is a worldwide musical extravaganza to raise awareness of hospice care. 52 countries are taking part, starting in New Zealand and finishing on the West Coast of the USA, 24 hours later.
It is estimated that there will be up to 50 times as many concerts as the 10 that took place worldwide for Live8.
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Hospice signs twinning agreement with Danish Hospice Forum
Through Voices for Hospices, the Hospice has forged links with the Danish Hospice Forum and has recently signed a twinning agreement to share experiences and impart skills.
At the signing, Roger Sharp, Community Appeals Manager for the Hospice said, “The sharing of knowledge regarding the development of education, nursing, medical and fundraising procedures, together with the building of new hospices will be beneficial to both hospices”. Ole Bang, of the Danish Hospice Forum said, "We are looking forward to working closely with the Hospice of St Francis and in particular, in future, exchanging nurses between the two hospices".
Link to twinning agreement (unfortunatly it's in Danish.)
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World Hospice and Palliative Care Day
Saturday 8 October has been designated World Hospice and Palliative Care Day.
More than 50 million people die every year around the world and it is estimated that 60% of these would benefit from hospice and palliative care, but the majority are not able to access these services.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu supports the day saying, “This day is an important global event”.
World Hospice and Palliative Care Day is an opportunity to increase the understanding of the nature and value of hospice and palliative care and to destroy a number of myths surrounding our care. To explain that hospice care is not about helping someone to die, but instead about helping them and everyone that cares for them to live as comfortably as possible within their illness – a flexible and adaptable style of care extended to carers and families, not just a building.
The first modern hospice, St Christopher’s in London was founded in 1967 by Dame Cicely Saunders who died at St Christopher’s in July this year. There are now 8,000 in 110 countries providing hospice and palliative care services, 231 in the UK.
You can take part in World Palliative and Hospice Care Day by logging on to www.worldday.org and signing a petition calling on Government to increase the availability of hospice care and for recognition of the needs of people living with a terminal illness and their families.
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Wednesday 5 October 2005
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The Gazette launches DIG D£EP Appeal for the Hospice |
The Gazette today threw its weight behind the Hospice to help raise the £2.5 million still needed to complete the building of the new hospice.
Each week The Gazette with feature the Hospice, our staff, our patients and their families, the building work and the progress of the appeal.
Read more here.....
To keep up with all the news from the DIG DE£P Appeal read the Gazette (published every Wednesday) or visit their website www.hemeltoday.co.uk.
The Gazette has also set up a Hospice page on their website
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Wednesday 5 October 2005
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Mayor of Dacorum gathers support for Hospice £2.5 million Capital Appeal |
25 years ago £25,000 was raised to support the first Hospice nurse through a series of Snowball Coffee Events.
On Wednesday 5 October, The Mayor of Dacorum, Jane Hogg will start the ball rolling with the first Snowball Coffee morning at the Mayor’s Parlour to help raise the £2.5 million required to complete the building of the new Hospice of St Francis in Shootersway, Berkhamsted.
The Mayor has asked a host of local dignitaries to attend. Each person will be given a pack and asked to go out and organize their own event, giving their guests packs to organize their events, and so on.
Anyone can join in the fun! So why not stop for coffee, or whatever your tipple, at work, at school, after golf and make this Snowball, snowball for the Hospice.
Interested, contact Louise Cecil on 01442 869550 for your pack.
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