CelebSport support
26th September

On behalf of The Hospice of St. Francis may I say a big thank you for supporting our fund raising evening CelebSport. We have received excellent feedback from the audience; please find enclosed front page coverage in our local newspaper. However, please note the actual amount raised is a fantastic £6,000, which is a much needed boost to the funds of both charities. We really appreciate your support as this would not have been possible without you.

Martin Pratt donates redundant computing equipment
1st September

Chris Burrows (IT Systems Manager) would like to thank Martin Pratt for the donation of16 computers and 37 Flat Screen Monitors. With this donation we can save desk space and power!

Reputations donate much needed computing equipment
Sunday 1st July

Chris Burrows (IT Systems Manager) would like to thank Kate Brown of Reputations (http://www.reputations.co.uk/) for the donation of half a dozen unwanted computers. With a small amount of effort these can be bought up to the necessary requirements for use in the Hospice

BT ‘network’ helps a hospice
Tuesday April 17th 2007. Posted: 10:24

A former BT man has called on his network of old colleagues to give a helping hand to a Hertfordshire hospice.
Chris Burrows, who worked for BT about 12 years ago, is head of IT and telecoms at St Francis Hospice in Berkhamsted.
When the hospice moved to new premises, it discovered the existing telephone system was no longer manufactured - and Chris could not obtain the extra handsets needed for the additional rooms.

With communication vital for hospice patients, Chris contacted Kevin McLaughlin, of the BT Group chief technology office, for urgent help.
BT swung into action – and Chris’s request received attention at the highest level, including BT Wholesale chief executive Paul Reynolds and BT Group chief procurement officer Meryl Bushell.
Also giving a helping hand were Theresa Gowler of BT Wholesale, and Ann-Marie Naughton and Joe Mallia of BT Group procurement.

Calls went out to BT’s preferred suppliers and internal enquiries were made to see if there was an alternative solution. Within days one of BT’s preferred suppliers of legacy equipment, Multimessage Systems, had found equipment of the right specification - and confirmed it could refurbish it to “as new” condition.
And when Multimessages’s head of business development Paul Morgan heard why the kit was needed, he arranged to supply the equipment free of charge.

Hospice chief executive Dr Ros Taylor said: “As a charity we are totally dependent on the generosity of the public and the wider business community.
“Without BT’s help and the generosity of its preferred supplier Multimessage, the only alternative for the hospice would have been to replace its existing switchboard.
“This could only have been done at huge expense and by diverting much-needed funding away from patient care.”

And he sent a special message of thanks to all the BT people who “went the extra mile” to help.
“They have made - and will continue to make - a significant difference to the lives of the people for whom we care,” he said.

22 April 2007 - Flora London Marathon

We would like to thank our runners for doing the business on behalf of the Hospice. Well done for completing the course in the times.

Jenny Hyatt completed in 04:21:53
Zoe Dunnings completed in 05:32:51
Mark Hadaway completed in 03:39:29
Gemma Bolam completed in 04:42:34
Sarah Magee did not run due to injury - see (Sarahs Blog)
Laura Rayner completed in 04:52:18
Martin Storrie no info on times

Tuesday 27th March2007 - Help 3000 Helps Hospice
It’s good to see local businesses putting something back into the community, and Help 3000 Ltd, the Chesham based IT support company is certainly doing that. This week Ian Stone, Business Development Manager at Help 3000, presented a new PC to Chris Burrows, IT Manager for the Hospice of St Francis in Berkhamsted.
“ We were asked what we wanted in the way of IT equipment, and our programme of upgrading our PCs was given a boost by this generous donation.” Said Mr Burrows.

“As we are in the IT business, it made sense to help out the IT side of the charity, which does great work for caring for the sick and their families.” Said Stone. “We will be donating more equipment during the year, as we feel on-going support for the charity is better than a one off gift. So this should be the first of many contributions to this worthwhile cause.” He added. “It seems that local charities should make themselves known to local businesses, through such events as the Chesham Lunch Club, held once a month, as this is where we came across The Hospice of St Francis.”

The Hospice of St Francis looks after up to eight in-patients and has a busy day patient clinic two days a week. A family support group is also available and this helps to manage a thriving volunteer home support team. For information about the Hospice and donations visit www.stfrancis.org.uk.

Around 100 firms rallied together to help the Hospice of St Francis achieve its dream of a new purpose-built base.
Read all about it in a 'Herts of business' article.

Roger sharp attended a special cheque presentation today (Wednesday 27 September) at Westfield Technical College, Tolpitts Lane Wednesday. The cheque for £1345 bought 269 bricks for the new Hospice of St Francis in memory of Jane Barker who died in the Hospice in May. She was Head of the Creative Art Faculty and originally trained as a dance teacher and was responsible for Dance productions in school. She was a very popular member of staff and a much loved form tutor. She had been at the school for 16 years.

Following her death the school set a challenge to raise £1000 to buy bricks for the Hospice. Each member of the VI form was attached to a form to encourage students to raise money. There was also a non-school uniform day.

Thanks to GE Healthcare for their party in the park at Pollards Wood on Friday 8 September. Four bands made up of employees took us from Blues to rock on a summers evening. Thank you to all that took part and helped organise the event.

Thanks to Rothamstead Research and GE Healthcare for taking part in the Corporate Hospice Cricket Final and funday on Sunday 10 September at Northchurch. After a tense match GE Healthcare were declared the winners. Many congratulations.

Thanks to Tony and David Purdy who completed their epic journey from John 0'Groats to Lands End on motorbikes, raising over £4000 for the Hospice.

Thanks to Richard, Justine, Daniel and Duncan who cycled the full length (160 miles) of the Grand Union canal from London to Birmingham. The money they raise will buy a bed for the new Hospice.

The Hospice would like to thank Peter Broom and all his staff at the Rose & Crown in Hawridge for putting on a sponsored Bungee Jump in aid of the Hospice during their Special Events Weekend on 5th/6th August.

Thanks goes to GE Healthcare for organising a funwalk on 8 July. Over 90 people donned their trainers and walked the 9 miles from the Company's office in Watford to their site in Little Chalfont including 'Steve's Office Angels' seen left in the halo's.