We’ve always been astounded by the incredible kindness and generosity of the St Peter & St James Hospice community, but this past year – more than ever – has highlighted just how compassionate and generous people can be.
In honour of our lovely supporters across Sussex and beyond, we publish a monthly round-up celebrating some of our hospice community heroes: a snapshot of just a few of the brilliant people making our work possible.
We first met the amazing Jon Lang and his family a couple of years ago when Jon’s father in law, Bill, spent his last days here on the inpatient ward. As 2020 began, Jon was approaching 35 years of continuous service with the same employer, so decided to take a six month Sabbatical and set himself some objectives with his time off. Two of these objectives were to get fit and to volunteer at a local charity and thus embarked on his 100-mile walk of South Downs Way.
“St Peter & St James’s care was excellent, and the way they looked after Bill and the family was first class. Like any charity, they have been hit hard this year, so if I can help in any way, that is my motivation”.
Jon completed his navigation of the South Downs Way in October 2020 raising an incredible £2275.00 for St Peter & St James. Another of Jon’s objectives was to travel, but, sadly, like all of us, he didn’t get to achieve this, but he provided us with fantastic support in an incredibly difficult year, not only by taking on this challenge but also by volunteering in our warehouse. Thank you, Jon!
The wonderful Phil Todd began running as a hobby during the first lockdown last year. This new hobby then grew into the idea that he would sign up for the 2020 Vitality London 10,000.
“Me, my son Alex and my good friend Tom thought we would sign up for a 10k, which we haven’t run before, to raise some money for St Peter & St James. This is the local hospice that so many people rely on, and I know how hard it must be to raise funds during this difficult time”.
Phil raised an amazing £1,095.00 for St Peter & St James. Thank you, Phil!
We met the lovely Bolan Pearcey-Taggart in September 2019 when his father, Tony, received his end of life care with us.
“In September 2019, my dad was nearing the end of his battle with cancer. At this time he needed specialist care, to keep him pain free and comfortable. He was given this by the amazing staff and volunteers at St Peter & St James Hospice in Mid-Sussex. Everybody involved in his care, was patient, kind and gave him dignity in his final days. This was so important to not only to dad, but to all of us who loved him.
After his passing they helped out the family with support and counselling when it was needed. This has been an open ended offer, and I know people have found this so helpful.
All of this is done with only a tiny amount of support from the government, and most of the funding is made by way of donation and fundraising. This last year has, for obvious reasons, been extremely challenging. Without big fundraisers it has made it so difficult to get those much needed funds, to provide the care that their patients and loved ones so desperately need at the hardest of times.
I honestly can’t speak highly enough of the work they do.”
Bo has chosen to honour his dad by taking on 3 challenges, one of which is a 60 mile ultra run through the Sussex countryside on a route called the Sussex Diamond Way. Bo has raised an impressive £615.00 so far for St Peter & St James, in addition to the fantastic £1,215.00 he raised last year when he undertook a trail marathon. Thank you, Bo!
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to everybody featured above, as well as to the hundreds of others who stand with us in being there for local families living with a terminal illness.
