Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page in aid of Saint Francis Hospice (SFH)

Well what a year 2020 has turned out to be for us all!  

For Saint Francis Hospice it has been a challenging but rewarding year. The Hospice has had to find new and innovative ways to operate in a changing society in the midst of a global pandemic while continuing to provide the high standards of vital care and support for those with life limiting illnesses, while supporting their families.  And the Hospice has succeeded !  How ? By having amazing, hard working, caring, devoted, professional, knowledgeable and compassionate people who put their patients and their families first and foremost. It hasn't been easy and is still proving difficult with only 27% of funding coming from the government with a shortfall of over £7.8 million a year still needing to be found from voluntary income - but the Hospice and it's great amazing and generous supporters are as strong and positive as ever before  ....

Saint Francis Hospice is based in Havering atte Bower Essex and is one of the largest independent adult hospice in the UK.  The Hospice provides care and support for those with life limiting illnesses, as well as support for their families  at no cost, serving a large diverse community covering the areas of Barking & Dagenham, Redbridge, Havering, and parts of East Essex.

My first experience of the Hospice was when I joined the Fundraising team back in late 2017.  I had no previous experience of working in a healthcare or hospice environment and to be honest I probably had a stereotypical view of what a hospice was  all about and what it stood it for.  Wow ... What a surprise .. I couldn't of been more wrong!  While working for the hospice I was continually amazed and touched by the work and dedication of its staff and the many teams.  Not only was the staff caring and understanding but the atmosphere of the Hospice is vibrant, full of energy and love.  It is all about living .... encouraging and helping patients to live life to the full ... comfortably  and with dignity.   I continue to work for Saint Hospice having worked for fundraising between 2017 and 2019 and then taking up the challenging of continuing to improve the experience and facilities for patients and their families by joining the Corporate Services team in December 2019. 

And the so many services Saint Francis Hospice provides for the community is .... well just astounding .... from day care, to therapy, to Hospice at Home, to the clinical care at the hospice in the IPU, to Orange Line, to family support and counselling - the list goes on - Saint Francis Hospice provides such important care as well as support to so many people in the community.  Working on the many large events that not only brought in vital revenue and donations to help keep the Hospice serves running but also raised awareness of such a valuable service and place Saint Francis is and continues to be ..... working for such an institution is an absolute honour.  But now with Covid19 these important fundraising events can no longer take place meaning, like many other Hospice departments, Fundraising has to think of new ways of working safely and raising funds in a ways we would never have thought were possible before 2020.  Like all other charities, Saint Francis Hospice has unfortunately lost a number of large and popular revenue generating events such as Frankie's Classic Car Fest, Festive Fun Run and the many community events that can no longer be attended by SFH.  And o=f course the London Marathon ... the Hospice's largest fundraiser thanks to our committed and amazing TEAMSFH runners that we are so lucky to have year on year.  Now we must all try to help this incredible and valuable charity to continue their much needed work in  and for the local community.  

And that's were I come in .... a non runner (not a non starter lol .. I hope !)  dedicated to getting active and running/walking (more walking than running I think ) my first ever Marathon of any kind to try to help Saint Francis Hospice in any way possible .... OMG what I have done lol. 

The pandemic has  given me the surprising opportunity to take part in the virtual London Marathon and try in a very small way to help a great charity.  

It has all been very short notice on my part due to personal issues but despite my lack of experience, age, silly health issues and tbh the doubts I may have about completing a 26.2 mile marathon, I can honestly say I am so proud to wear the distinctive Orange SFH running vest and represent ... and do them proud.. on Sunday 4th October.  Thank you SFH for giving me the opportunity to help. 

Please donate and if you need any information regarding the Hospice and their work please check out the web site ... www.sfh.org.uk

Thank you so so much 

Chris 

#Go Orange #SFH 

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