SPRING 2018 QUALITY TIME DEVELOPING CARE HOME SUPPORT OCEAN TERMINAL PARTNERSHIP
IN THIS ISSUE 03 WELCOME 04 NEWS FROM THE HOSPICE 06 BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS IN PALLIATIVE CARE 07 DEVELOPING CARE HOME SUPPORT 08 MORE THAN JUST CHARITY SHOPS 09 TOP GIFTS FOR MOTHER'S DAY 10 LADIES LUNCH FLYER 11 NEW CHARITY OF THE YEAR PARTNERSHIPS 12 QUALITY TIME 15 FRIENDS NEAR AND FAR 16 COMMUNITY CORNER 18 MOVEMENT IS LIFE 19 CELTIC CHALLENGE 20 EVENTS CALENDAR 21 BEHIND THE SCENES 22 TOP 10 WAYS TO GET INVOLVED
Find us on Facebook facebook.com/stcolumbas Follow us on Twitter @StColumbas Cover photograph courtesy of Sara Thomson Photography.
St Columba’s Hospice 15 Boswall Road Edinburgh EH5 3RW T: 0131 551 1381 E: fund@stcolumbashospice.org.uk Scottish charity number: SC003634 Registered in Scotland No. 48700 Design by teviotcreative.com
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WELCOME TO THE SPRING EDITION OF LIFE MAGAZINE. HERE AT THE HOSPICE, WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER BUSY YEAR, EXTENDING OUR REACH INTO THE COMMUNITY AND CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THOSE WHO REQUIRE OUR SERVICES, WHOEVER THEY ARE, WHEREVER THEY ARE AND WHENEVER THEY NEED IT. We had a wonderful close to 2017 with our Light Up A Life Appeal raising £120,000 for the Hospice. With 2,000 people attending the tree switch-on in Charlotte Square Gardens, it really was a very special occasion indeed, and a real celebration of the Hospice community. Throughout 2017 our 40th Anniversary provided an opportunity to reflect on the vital work of the Hospice with friends and supporters and all those who have made the Hospice the special place that it is today.
14 A SUMMER TO REMEMBER
Keep in touch with us online for our latest news: www.stcolumbashospice.org.uk
WELCOME TO THE SPRING 2018 EDITION OF LIFE MAGAZINE
We are delighted to have a variety of fundraising events in the works for 2018 – some familiar events that we look forward to every year along with a couple of exciting new events too. This year we will be holding our first ever Ladies Lunch, followed closely by a brand new cycling event in Holyrood Park called ‘Beat the Seat’ which challenges riders to see how many laps of Arthur’s Seat they can do in 12 hours! We hope that both of these fantastic new events will help us reach new members of our community and welcome some new faces to our incredible group of volunteers and supporters.
The Hospice is as busy as ever with our dedicated team of staff and volunteers helping those we support to make the very most of the time they have, whether that be in our inpatient unit, our day therapies department or through our community team. We’re all looking forward to some warmer spring weather, especially after the recent spell of snow, and to seeing families, volunteers and staff enjoying the beautiful gardens and grounds here in north Edinburgh. On behalf of everyone at the Hospice, thank you for your support. So many people come together to make the work of the Hospice possible, with each and every one of you a vital part of something truly incredible. With very best wishes for 2018,
Jackie Stone Chief Executive
As always, we are continually striving to develop excellence in palliative care through education and research, and are delighted to be involved in hosting part of an international conference later this year, in partnership with The University of Edinburgh. WWW.STCOLUMBASHOSPICE.ORG.UK
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NEWS FROM THE HOSPICE VOLUNTEERS RECOGNISED WITH INNOVATION AWARD
for our patients. It involves regularly reviewing our processes to make sure they are up to date and as effective as they can be.
Our volunteers bring a wealth of skills and experience to the Hospice. We have been working hard over the past few years to develop the roles they do for us, in order to make the most of the knowledge and abilities they have to offer. During this time, we embarked on a project to get more volunteers involved in our governance structures. The initiative saw a team of seven volunteers with varied backgrounds in business, health and social care, come together to help us review the services we provide to our patients. As a result of this project, our Clinical Governance team won the 2017 Hospice UK ‘Innovation in Volunteering’ award. Clinical Governance is hugely important to what we do as it allows us to continuously improve the quality of our services and maintain the highest possible standards
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Together, these talented volunteers have helped us establish and manage a number of new policies and practices and taken on tasks within staff recruitment and training. This work may not be immediately obvious to visitors of the Hospice, but it helps us be sure that we are delivering the right services, in the right way, to the right people. We are incredibly proud of this team, and grateful for their support. It was fantastic to see them receive national recognition for their work and great to know that other organisations recognise the importance and value of involving volunteers in this way. More recently, we have also been reviewing our Ward Volunteer role. Many volunteers helping us on the wards have health and social care backgrounds so we have been holding consultations to inform how the role can better support staff, patients and their families. We currently have two volunteers on a six week trial with expanded responsibilities, enabling them to offer a much wider range of support on our wards. This is a very exciting project and we are looking forward to seeing the results.
40 FOR 40 UPDATE You may remember in January 2017 we launched a special initiative to celebrate our 40th anniversary. We invited all of our local corporate supporters to join with us in raising a target of £40,000 in one year, hoping to have 40 companies commit to raising £1000 each. Nearly half of our corporate supporters raised over the £1000 pledged through a variety of creative fundraising challenges including cake sales, sporting events, BBQs, a fireworks display and a race night! We were also delighted to have received considerable match funding from Lloyds, Bank of Scotland, Standard Life and Scottish Widows. In addition to fundraising, many of the teams chose to support us by spending one of their volunteering days helping out at the Hospice. Whether they were hard at work in the gardens or having a fun day putting up all our Christmas decorations and wrapping the presents for our patients, their help was valued and appreciated. We are delighted to let you know that we reached our target with some of our corporate supporters choosing to continue fundraising for us into 2018 as well! A big THANK YOU to all our corporate supporters who truly put the ‘fun’ into fundraising and helped us achieve an incredible £40,000 to mark our 40th anniversary.
GIVE A GIFT IN LIEU Have you ever been asked what you’d like as a gift for a special occasion and been unable to think of anything you want or need? From time to time, you, a relative or a friend may not wish to receive a gift to mark an important milestone or celebration such as a birthday, anniversary or wedding. Have you ever considered celebrating the day by suggesting your loved ones give a gift to St Columba’s Hospice instead? What better way to mark a special day than to ask family, friends and loved ones to give donations to St Columba’s Hospice in lieu of gifts. Not only will you be helping us provide specialist care and support to people in the Hospice and across Edinburgh and the Lothians, you’ll also be supporting the advancement and accessibility of palliative care and end of life care across Scotland and beyond. We would be delighted to receive donations in honour of your special day and we will use them to support families when they need it most.
GET INVOLVED IN 2018 Throughout 2018 we will be letting you know about exciting new ways to get involved with the Hospice, whether that is through joining our team of volunteers or by taking part in events, such as the Giant Pub Quiz, A Walk to Remember, or the Kiltwalk. Make sure you check out our events calendar for 2018 on pages 20–21, or the fundraising pages on our website. You can also keep up to date by signing-up for our email newsletter via the website.
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BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS IN PALLIATIVE CARE
DEVELOPING
JANICE LOGAN AND DANUTA ORLOWSKA ARE LECTURERS IN PALLIATIVE CARE. HERE, THEY DISCUSS THE IMPORTANCE OF HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS WORKING TOGETHER TO BRIDGE GAPS IN PALLIATIVE CARE AND WHAT STEPS THE HOSPICE IS TAKING TO ENCOURAGE COLLABORATIVE WORKING IN THE FIELD.
HILARY GARDNER RECENTLY JOINED THE HOSPICE AS A COMMUNITY NURSE SPECIALIST WITH THE REMIT OF DEVELOPING CARE HOME SUPPORT. IN THIS ARTICLE, HILARY SHARES SOME INFORMATION ABOUT HER BACKGROUND, THE PROJECT AND WHAT SHE HOPES TO BRING TO THE NEW ROLE.
Our Centre for Education and Research is located across the lane from the main Hospice building in a beautifully extended house overlooking the Firth of Forth. Since opening in 2012, the Education Centre has been central to highlighting the important part collaboration plays in the development of safe and effective palliative and end of life care across Edinburgh and the Lothians and beyond. Each year we welcome health and social care professionals and students from across the globe to share best practice and support training and advancements in the field. Our aim is to educate and promote the benefits of teamwork in palliative care for the patient, bringing professionals together to ensure a holistic approach which focuses on the person, not the condition.
COURSES WE OFFER St Columba’s Hospice has collaborated with Queen Margaret University for over 20 years. Currently this collaboration provides two part time programmes: •
The Graduate Certificate in Palliative Care is at degree level and aims to enhance existing knowledge and skills in palliative and end of life care practice. Registered nurses are the main group on this programme, however, it is open to registered health and social care practitioners.
•
The Postgraduate Certificate in Palliative Care and the MSc Person-Centred Practice (Palliative Care) are aimed at more experienced practitioners from various health and social care roles including registered nurses, doctors, physiotherapists and occupational therapists.
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The courses have so far been very successful with students telling us: “I’ve had my eyes opened to a much wider knowledge base that I would never have had, had I not completed the programme.” “The PATCH funded course has helped me to be more confident in the care I provide for people with palliative care needs and their families.” Students accessing these programmes come from a variety of health and social care settings which include hospital, community, care home and children’s services. Both programmes are designed to reflect national strategy and module content includes pain and symptom management, psychosocial care and communication skills.
NEW PARTNERSHIP One of our most recent partnerships is with NHS Borders and is funded by the Scottish Charity Palliation and the Caring Hospital (PATCH). This programme combines classroom and clinically based education to enable registered nurses to develop palliative and end of life care practice within their clinical or community area.
CARE HOME SUPPORT “I am delighted to join the team at the Hospice and excited to be involved in a new project where we will work together with local care homes to develop palliative and end of life care services. “My background is in community nursing as a district nurse and community clinical nurse specialist in Lothian. I am passionate about the care and support provided to the vulnerable and elderly, in particular, those dying with or because of dementia. “The Hospice’s community team has always provided advice and support to care homes, and we want to offer a programme of education and support to enhance their knowledge and skills in palliative and end of life care. “As a nation we are living longer than ever before and this means the number of people living and dying in care homes is increasing; in fact, more people die in care homes than hospices. Most people living in care homes have advanced progressive conditions, including dementia, and require palliative and end of life care. The Hospice provides specialist palliative care for people with complex pain, symptoms and care needs, but the palliative care principle of improving quality of life for people living with life limiting illnesses is the same in both settings. “Sharing knowledge through education and training is central to the hospice movement, and as part of our five year strategy we aim to increase the palliative care knowledge of more health and social care colleagues. As a centre
of excellence for person-centred palliative and end of life care, we can share expertise and experience to support care home staff in their day to day roles. We can also learn from care homes as the experts in supporting people and families with the challenges of dementia at the end of life. “The main focus of my role is to develop an exciting project using technology to allow care home staff access to education and support without leaving their place of work. “ECHO (Extensions of Community Health Outcomes) originates from the United States, where a specialist doctor recognised the need to educate local doctors to help him manage the growing number of patients that could benefit from specialist care. Using teleconferencing, he developed an education system to allow health professionals to share knowledge and expertise with those closest to the patient and providing their care. “Our aim is to follow this model, and from March, the Hospice will be transformed into a hub from which care home staff can have access to a virtual classroom from their computer or laptop. They will be able to join discussions led by our specialist team and share knowledge together to develop a community practice. “ECHO is about moving information, rather than people and aims to transform the way education and knowledge are shared to reach more health and social care professionals. I’m looking forward to forging new relationships with our care home colleagues and working together to improve the care we all deliver to the frailest and often most vulnerable people in our society.” WWW.STCOLUMBASHOSPICE.ORG.UK
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MORE THAN JUST CHARITY SHOPS Most people will be familiar with a visit to one of our charity shops which are spread across the city, whether it’s popping in for a book or DVD on your lunch break, a more dedicated ‘trawl through the rails’ in search of a bargain, or donating your unwanted items to the shops. But how many of us are aware of the many other facets of society our shops provide? And of the ways most items you donate can be reused or recycled?
painted and used for displays, single or cracked tea cups can be hung up with ribbon, rolls of wallpaper or maps can be used as backdrops. Tatty but interesting items can also be given a new lease of life and used in displays; for example the Portobello shop has an old dollhouse which has been spruced up to make a display unit for the children’s department.
Did you know…..? Our shops recycled three tons of rags in December alone (this includes clothing, textiles, bags, belts, shoes and soft toys) and we also recycle books. Shops receive extra income from this and it also greatly benefits the environment.
The shops can also inspire a real hub of creativity and resource for the community. Customers that come in to our stores are often searching for items which they can only find in charity shops. Odd balls of wool or scraps of fabric for art teachers or crafty types, toys for a playgroup or specific items for a drama group or school production.
All our managers are experts in not only sorting through stock to ensure a high quality of goods on the shop floor but they also identify more unusual items which can be reused and upcycled in many creative ways. Old picture frames can be
So, the next time you walk past one of our shops, remember, it’s not just a charity shop! It’s a community resource, social meeting place, recycling point and the local face of St Columba’s Hospice.
Our shops are always grateful for your donations, so please think of us! You can find us at…
195/7 Morningside Road, Edinburgh
74 Dalry Road, Edinburgh
352 Leith Walk, Edinburgh
TOP GIFTS FOR
MOTHER'S DAY Mother’s Day is one of those dates that changes each year depending when Easter falls and so can be easily missed. This year, Mother’s Day is on Sunday 11th March, so take note! The origins date back to ancient Greek times when an annual Spring festival was dedicated to maternal goddesses. Today the day has evolved into a day where we celebrate the maternal women in our lives, whoever they may be. Our lovely new Spring range features a selection of gifts perfect for the occasion. We have fabulous scarves including a pink animal print pashmina (£10) which would look perfect with one of our gorgeous pale pink handbags with faux fur pom pom (£12). Another thoughtful gift idea is the hand poured candles and diffusers from a collaboration project for the Hospice with Love Scottish Candles. Our most popular scents for candles and diffusers are Black Pomegranate, Scottish Rose and Fig & Cassis. Diffusers give off a subtle, delicate scent to your home throughout the day, while candles provide scent and glow (priced at £12 and £15).
We have two new ranges of jewellery from local designers Leigh Rogerson and Alexis Southam, both handmade in sterling silver. Leigh’s top sellers are the popular ‘Bee’ stud earrings, while Alexis’s designs are earthy and organic, with mix and match earrings inspired by nature (prices from £10).
For the little ones wanting to spoil mum or grandma on her big day, we also have some pocket money priced gifts, including pretty ribboned bags of fudge, nail buffers or lip salve. Pop by our shop in the Iona Café or visit our website for more clever gift ideas!
15 Montagu Terrace, Goldenacre, Edinburgh
9 Comely Bank Road, Stockbridge, Edinburgh
You can also find us at 65b Main Street, Fauldhouse! 08 |
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195 Portobello High Street, Edinburgh
http://www. stcolumbashospice.org.uk/ online-shop/
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S T C O L U M B A’ S H O S P I C E LADIES LUNCH
An
Af ternoon with the
Stars M AY
27th
2018
HOSTED BY MICHELLE McMANUS AT T H E H U B , E D I N B U R G H 12PM DRINKS RECEPTION 12.30PM T WO COURSE MEAL I N D I V I D UA L T I C K E T S £ 6 0 , TA B L E O F 1 0 £ 5 5 0 0131 551 1381 FUND@STCOLUMBASHOSPICE.ORG.UK
NEW CHARITY OF THE YEAR PARTNERSHIPS We are delighted to have been selected as Charity of the Year 2018 for Ocean Terminal and Blackrock Investment Management and Financial Services. We are very much looking forward to the partnerships and a huge thank you to all the staff who voted for us. Our partnership with Ocean Terminal kicked off officially in March, but you may have spotted our enthusiastic volunteers in December, wrapping Christmas gifts for Ocean Terminal customers in exchange for a donation to the Hospice. We received almost £2,000 in donations, so a big success! We look forward to perfecting this art this Christmas too, so if you enjoy getting in the Christmas spirit and would like to help out this December, please get in touch with Barbara in the Fundraising team by emailing bbrockie@stcolumbashospice.org.uk.
We a re als o de to b light e pa ed rtne with red TSB RBC (Leit Wea h), lth M David ana son and Chalm gement the In , ers L stitu of A LP, ctua te & ries F a c u who activ have lty ely been the H fundrais ing f ospic or e alr eady !
We currently have an exhibition running which is free to the public and has artwork by our patients on display and photography portraying the different aspects of hospice life. Please feel free to pop in and have a look around. We’ll also have a pop-up shop in the centre and lots of exciting fundraising challenges taking place throughout the year including a spectacular Dragon Boat Race – a first for the Hospice! The team at Blackrock also have an amazing diary of events and challenges planned for the year and we are so excited to be partnered with this wonderful team. We’ll be keeping you all updated on what is happening throughout the year – so keep an eye on our social media! WWW.STCOLUMBASHOSPICE.ORG.UK
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QUALITY TIME LAST SEPTEMBER, BETTY’S HUSBAND JIM DIED IN ST COLUMBA’S HOSPICE AT THE AGE OF 92. DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER IN THE LIVER AND LUNG JUST FIVE MONTHS EARLIER, DOCTORS AND CONSULTANTS ADVISED THE COUPLE TO SPEND AS MUCH QUALITY TIME TOGETHER AS POSSIBLE. ALTHOUGH TIME WAS SHORT, WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE HOSPICE, BETTY WAS ABLE TO BE AT HER HUSBAND’S SIDE TO THE END. HERE SHE SHARES HER EXPERIENCE FROM THE POINT OF JIM’S DIAGNOSIS.
“We were first told about the Hospice by the doctors and consultants at the hospital. When we found out Jim had cancer, they said he probably had four or five months and asked how we felt about being referred to the Hospice. He was so full of energy and lived life to the full so this news came as a huge shock to the whole family. We talked about the Hospice when we got home and Jim asked me what I thought; we both agreed we would like to find out more. “A specialist nurse from the Hospice’s Community Palliative Care team came to visit us at our house and told us all about the services they could provide. After that we felt more confident about the referral and arranged to have a tour. When we arrived everyone was so welcoming and we were shown one of the bedrooms which had its own balcony and the Columba room which has fantastic views right out across the Forth. There was a café and lovely gardens, the whole place was just very peaceful and calm. “Shortly after that, Jim’s daughter and son-in-law arrived from Australia and he offered to take them to the hospice to show them what it was like. At that point I was providing all of Jim’s care at home but he was adamant that if he became too poorly he wanted to go to the hospice so I had some support too. It was nice that he could take Irene and Alan to see what it was like, I think that really helped him feel at ease and it meant we all knew what to expect. “As I was considered Jim’s primary carer, our community nurse introduced me to the idea of counselling, which I’d never considered before. Being able to talk to someone neutral at such
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a difficult time helped me to come to terms with what was happening and work through my thoughts and emotions. The Hospice counsellor has been such a support not only to me but also to the family, I think Jim found comfort in knowing that I had someone to talk to and Irene found comfort in knowing that I would have support when she and Alan returned to Australia. “Jim spent ten days in the Cedar ward at St Columba’s Hospice before he died on September 8, 2017. I slept by his side in the same room during that time and Irene and Alan were able to sleep in the guest room at the Hospice so that they were close by should his condition worsen overnight. The burden of care and responsibility was lifted during this time and having specialist help gave a feeling of relief to us all. It allowed me to be a wife again and we were able to spend quality time together. “It really was a home from home during those ten days. The nurses were so accommodating and made things possible for us that we may not have been able to do without their support. If anyone is unsure about the service or what it’s like to be at the hospice, I hope I can provide you with some comfort by saying that from my experience you couldn’t go to a better place to be looked after. You get first class treatment, support for the whole family and peace in beautiful surroundings. “I’m continuing to meet regularly with the Hospice counsellor who is helping me cope with my grief and to understand the mourning process. Jim and I lived a wonderful life together, we travelled and enjoyed each other’s company. I miss him dearly but couldn’t have wished for better care for him in those final days.” WWW.STCOLUMBASHOSPICE.ORG.UK
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FRIENDS NEAR AND FAR MANJU MANAK IS THE FIRST SPECIALIST PALLIATIVE CARE NURSE TRAINEE IN NEPAL. FUNDED BY EMMS IN EDINBURGH AND EMPLOYED BY INF INTERNATIONAL IN KATHMANDU, WE WELCOMED HER IN JANUARY FOR TWO WEEKS TO GIVE HER EXPERIENCE IN A HOSPICE SETTING IN THE UK.
TO REMEMBER APPEAL In August 2017, we held our first Summer to Remember Appeal. We displayed bunting at a special event in Lomond Park and each pennant on display was dedicated to a loved one with a special message. This year, we will again be inviting individuals and community groups to make this a summer to remember by sharing memories and celebrating the lives of loved ones. You can get involved and help us raise much needed funds for the Hospice by registering for an information pack today, email: fund@stcolumbashospice.org.uk
time spare "In my avel and see g tr rtin to I love s. Before sta lace I was in nd , g new p in in e my tra r the week r the hry fo Pitloc aw snow fo !" close and s me up first ti
“I’ve been in this field from 2016 and I’m training to develop palliative and end of life care in Nepal. In order to gain experience and exposure within established hospice settings, my training has included travel throughout Nepal, India and now the UK. In addition, I’ve also been lucky enough
to attend and learn from international conferences. My objective is to observe how patients are cared for here and to gain skills and knowledge to take it back to my country so that people will benefit from what I’ve learned during my time here. It will be a challenge for me to offer a similar service as the setup is very different. In Nepal, we don’t have many standalone hospices; the majority of palliative care is carried out within the oncology unit in hospitals. “The most horrible thought is being at the end of life and feeling isolated and alone. The comfort of being cared for by a hospice alleviates this fear and brings comfort. This is what drives me and one of the main things I’ll take away with me is that outside of a diagnosis, there are often many hidden issues which cause worry. It can take time and patience in order to build trust, but often having the time to listen is enough to make people feel better about their concerns. “I really appreciate the team and working environment at St Columba’s Hospice. Everyone has been amazing and so willing to share knowledge with me. The team is really supportive and encouraging and you really get the sense of how much everyone really takes care of each other. Thank you so much to everyone at the Hospice for looking after me and I hope I can visit again soon.
SCOTLAND'S HOSPICES TOGETHER We're delighted to be part of a new national partnership called Scotland’s Hospices Together. On Valentine’s Day, we were in Glasgow helping to spread hospice love and encourage nationwide support and awareness of the vital hospice work going on across Scotland. For more information, you can visit
www.scotlandshospices.org. St Columba’s Hospice, 15 Boswall Road, Edinburgh EH5 3RW Registered in Scotland No 48700. Charity No SC003634
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COMMUNITY CORNER
ST NINIAN'S ANNUAL COFFEE MORNING Margaret, Jim and friends will be holding their 18th annual coffee morning in aid of St Columba’s Hospice at St Ninian's Church, Corstorphine on Saturday 10 March 2018. Margaret said “On the Saturday morning the atmosphere at St Ninian’s is just buzzing. Members of our own congregation and many other faces keep on coming back year on year. To fundraise for St Columba’s is just so special and it is such a privilege to raise funds for such a very special place.”
10TH LEITH BOYS BRIGADE: FUNDRAISING AND TALK 10th Leith Boys Brigade raised £300 for the Hospice through their parents' night performance and invited us along to tell them how their donation would help the work we do. The group leader, Stuart Winton, said the talk
“really put into perspective what the money the boys had raised was actually going to do and just how much it would help…” they could then really appreciate the benefits of what they had done.
MILO DEMARCO: COLLECTIONS AT ECE XMAS PARTIES Milo raised £145 through bucket collections over Christmas. “I decided to collect donations for St Columba’s Hospice as part of my community work for my Junior Award Scheme for School (JASS) silver award as it is a local charity which helps lots of people during some really hard times.”
Julie and her friend Steven wearing green wigs because her dad was a great Hibs fan.
JULIE CAMPSIE’S LOONIE DOOK Julie braved this year’s Loonie Dook in memory of her dad and raised an impressive £860 for the Hospice. Her dad spent a month in the Hospice last year and Julie said “It was a very difficult time for us but the staff and facilities were super. We received so much care and compassion from the team. It inspired me to raise money by doing the Loony Dook in my dad’s honour. I received so much support from friends and family which really made it worthwhile.”
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Sandra, Anne, Isabel, Fiona and Anne at the hamper raffle.
ALAN DUNDAS: FUNDRAISING WALK After fundraising for the Hospice in 2016, Alan decided to take on a new challenge in 2017 and he walked 17 miles in memory of his father-in-law, finishing at his mother-in-law’s house. Alan raised £665!
KENNY’S LONDON MARATHON ‘My mum was the person who always put her hand up to help. In honour of this, I’ve decided to put my hand up too! On the 22nd of April, I will run 26.2 miles in her honour & to raise money for St Columba’s Hospice so that they can continue to do the fantastic work they do.’
Alan was well supported along the way and is already looking forward to his next challenge: “I got many great nods of encouragement from passers-by as I had my kilt on with my St Columba’s Hospice t-shirt on. We all have the ability and power to give back to our communities and I'm very driven to do that. I can't wait till my next event for the hospice.”
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
If you want to fundraise for us or organise a speaker for your group contact Hannah Graham
hgraham@stcolumbashospice.org.uk 0131 551 1381
WWW.STCOLUMBASHOSPICE.ORG.UK
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MOVEMENT IS LIFE OUR DAY THERAPIES MANAGER, YVONNE WHITEHOUSE, IS TAKING ON THE CELTIC CHALLENGE! "I have enjoyed writing about the changes in Day Therapies in the last two editions of Life and for this edition would like to share a little more with you all about my personal quest at the Hospice this year. On the 16th of May, I will be setting off from the Hospice with a group of fellow cyclists to cycle the Celtic Challenge, a 200 mile route from here to Iona. "The problem with the word cyclist is that it implies some sort of knowledge or skill about being on a bike. However, this for me is most definitely not the case! Apart from many hours watching Tour de France and Olympic cycling, the total of my adult cycling career has been Antipoedean wine tours on a tandem, a disastrous date at Glentress and bumping into a cat whilst at a virtual standstill on a borrowed bike! "So how have I found myself agreeing to cycle 200 miles to Iona?! At very short notice, I ended up giving the departure speech at this year's challenge. What I should have done was followed the pre-written words on the paper I was given; what I ended up doing was somewhat different! I felt incredibly humbled standing in front of these people, who all believed enough in the work that we do at St Columba's to take on this challenge to raise funds for us and I heard myself vowing (OUT LOUD... in front of the CEO and Fundraising Director) to be in their shoes next year...
"I am fast learning how to change gears going up a hill, what 50mph winds actually feel like up on the Pentlands, how cold your feet get on a bike in Braemar in the winter and how to ‘attack’ in a spin class with a disco ball in the dark. But I am also learning how meaningful and motivating it is to have friends and family believe in me – I can do this! The offer of training rides, the people who have signed up to my sponsored spin class at LifesCycle Studio, the emails I have been getting and the donations to my sponsorship site have been incredible so far. "At work, I spend a lot of time listening to and supporting people with palliative illnesses, coming to terms with the fact that their bodies are not working as well as they used to. I help them get their bodies as well as they can be and as a patient said recently: 'Movement is Life.' To be able to use movement and physical activity as a way to raise awareness and funds for people with palliative illnesses who are not able to move as they would like to resonates strongly with me and I hope that my body will be as good as it can be to get me over the finish line in Iona. "Thank you for taking the time to read this and if I have inspired you to dust off an old pair of bike shoes or take up a new active hobby and you would like to support the Hospice whilst doing this, then please check out the variety of fundraising challenges that are on this year. Getting fit and raising money at the same time will make you feel great!" If you would like to find out more about the Celtic Challenge or would like to make a donation, please visit https://stcolumbashospicecelticchallenge. everydayhero.com/uk/yvonne-s-celticchallenge
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EVENTS CALENDAR The Giant Pub Quiz THURSDAY 26TH APRIL, EDINBURGH CORN EXCHANGE £15 PER PERSON, £75 FOR A TEAM OF 6. Join us at our spring Giant Pub Quiz! Round up your most intelligent friends (or those with knowledge of the obscure) for this fantastic evening, testing your general knowledge for a chance to win some fantastic prizes. Tickets include a pie and a pint but be quick, this event sells out in advance of the night. Book now to avoid disappointment!
CELTIC CHALLENGE 16–20 MAY, EDINBURGH TO IONA, REGISTRATION £175 Take on the Celtic Challenge, our epic 200 mile cycling event. Get on your bike and cycle from the hospice in Edinburgh to the beautiful Isle of Iona in just four days, taking in some of Scotland’s most stunning cycling routes. This event is suitable for experienced and novice cyclists alike with a training plan provided to ensure you are in top condition to enjoy yourself during the challenge. Limited places available, so get in touch today!
EDINBURGH MARATHON FESTIVAL 26/27 MAY, EDINBURGH Dig out your running shoes and take on Scotland’s largest running event, the Edinburgh Marathon. The new route for 2018 will see participants legging it through the city’s historic old town for the first time in the event’s history. Take in sights such as the Scott Monument and the Scottish Parliament as you run 5k, 10k, a half or a full marathon. You could even round up three friends and try your luck at the Hairy Haggis Relay! For more fundraising events please go to
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LADIES LUNCH SUNDAY 27 MAY, THE HUB, EDINBURGH, £60 A new event for 2018, our Ladies Lunch will take place in the beautiful surrounds of The Hub at the top of the Royal Mile. The day will include fantastic entertainment, a welcome drink and a delicious two course meal. Following lunch, there will be a chance to win some brilliant prizes in our live auction, Bottle Tombola and Raffle.
A WALK TO REMEMBER SATURDAY 2 JUNE, FROM BALERNO TO LEITH REGISTRATION IS £15 FOR ADULTS AND £10 FOR CHILDREN Join us for another fantastic day out with family, friends and loved ones. Whether you are walking to celebrate and remember those no longer with us, or just looking for a great day out to discover the hidden heart of the city, our 12.5 mile, 7 mile and 3 mile routes offer something for everyone to enjoy.
BEAT THE SEAT SUNDAY 17 JUNE, ARTHUR’S SEAT Beat the Seat is a brand new, unique challenge event right in the heart of the capital. The event will pit you and your bike against one of Edinburgh’s most iconic landmarks; Arthur’s Seat. This June, you and your team will have 12 hours to clock up as many laps of Arthur’s Seat as you can. Each lap follows the 3.28 mile loop of the Queen’s Drive, with roads closed to vehicles for the duration of the event. Entries will be available for individuals, pairs and teams of four. If you think you have what it takes to Beat the Seat, register your interest today.
FORTH BRIDGE ABSEIL SUNDAY 1ST JULY, SOUTH QUEENSFERRY REGISTRATION £30 Take part in a unique and thrilling fundraising challenge by abseiling 165ft from the iconic Forth Bridge on to the beach below. The Forth Bridge Abseil is a real adrenaline rush for the daring and the ultimate challenge for the rest of us! No previous experience is necessary to take part and no training is required.
BEHIND THE SCENES HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHAT HAPPENS AT THE HOSPICE BEHIND-THESCENES, OR WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO WORK HERE? ALAN TIPTON WORKS AS A CHEF IN OUR BUSY KITCHEN! FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HIS ROLE AND WHAT HE GETS UP TO IN HIS SPARE TIME... HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED AT THE HOSPICE? I've worked as a chef at the hospice for just over 2 years. It’s been a very quick and enjoyable couple of years after coming from a hectic kitchen at Edinburgh airport! It’s a much more relaxed pace but we’re always busy!
Tell us about your role at the hospice? As a chef at the hospice, if I’m working an early shift, my day starts at 7am getting the porridge and breakfast ready for patients on the ward. Our scones are always in high demand so we get them ready for the Iona Café and staff canteen first thing too! Along with the other chefs and kitchen assistants, we then go about prepping lunch and supper for patients and staff. There is always a selection of hot meals on offer, along with a salad bar, freshly made soup, sandwiches and home baking.
How does your role help patients and families? Working in the kitchen is very much a behind the scenes role unless we need to go see patients and relatives about dietary requirements or if a member of staff pops their head in the kitchen for a chat or a bit of toast. We try to tailor meal plans as much as possible for every patient in our care. We have to make sure we’re attending to the Iona cafe and supplying tasty meals which requires lots of planning, we do lots of themed days as well. I think we meet patient, relative and staff needs and expectations as we get lots of nice feedback.
Could you tell us something people won’t know about being a chef at the hospice? I think people would be surprised that even though it’s quite a small team we’re preparing around 30,000 meals per year! That’s not even including buffets, sandwiches and soup - we're a very busy team.
What do you do in your spare time? I'm a keen cyclist so I spend a fair bit of time out on my bike and taking my dog out for walks. Being a grandad, I also get to spend time with my very amusing grandchildren.
Is there anything else you would like to add? As I said, I'm a keen cyclist so this year I'm taking part in the Celtic Challenge again, cycling 200 miles from the Hospice to Iona in four days to help raise funds for St Columba's Hospice. If you want to help me make a difference you can donate via my everyday hero page. https://stcolumbashospicecelticchallenge. everydayhero.com/uk/alan-s-celtic-challenge-1 WWW.STCOLUMBASHOSPICE.ORG.UK
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TOP TEN WAYS TO
GET INVOLVED
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THINKING OF GETTING INVOLVED WITH SUPPORTING THE HOSPICE BUT DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START? YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED AT THE VARIETY OF WAYS THAT YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. READ ON TO FIND OUT MORE.
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It took 3 years to grow but just 20 minutes to shave off and raise £626.12 – and it’s not just beards! Heads are popular too – so if you feel brave, go ahead and shave.
2 We get a lot of flowers donated to us and our flower team take those flowers and make them into beautiful arrangements which bring joy to patients, visitors and staff alike. If you have a flair for flowers then this could be just the thing for you.
Whether your idea of fun is laughing with your friends over lunch, taking part in a sponsored walk or taking on an adrenaline fuelled challenge, our wide range of events are sure to offer something to suit you.
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Our volunteer roles are many and varied: everything from covering reception and working in our Iona Café, to van driving and ward assistant posts. If you want to get in touch for a chat about how you can get involved, we would love to hear from you.
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We have a large garden, which needs planting and maintaining. If you have green fingers and enjoy being outdoors you might want to find out more about the gardening team.
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Once you have looked after your family and friends please think about leaving a gift to St Columba’s Hospice in your will. By doing so you can help ensure everyone within our community has access to specialist palliative care whoever they are, wherever they are and whenever they need it.
Get creative and host a quiz night in aid of St Columba’s Hospice! If knowledge-based fun is your bag then we can provide you with materials to get you started.
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Whether donating goods after a spring clean, visiting our shops or buying gifts from the Iona Café you will be supporting the Hospice. We are always happy to hear from anyone interested in volunteering their time to help run our shops.
Help us spread the word about the care and support we offer the community as well as volunteering and fundraising opportunities. By following us on social media and sharing our posts you will be helping more than you know.
10 Could you be the one to get your workplace fundraising for the Hospice? Bake sales and Pie the Manager have been known to raise lots of money, you are limited only by your imagination. WWW.STCOLUMBASHOSPICE.ORG.UK
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The Th hhe G Giant ant
PU UB QUI UZ THURSDAY 26 APRIL, 6.30PM AT EDINBURGH CORN EXCHANGE
fantastic prbize won 1 S T, 2 ND, 3 RD PLACE PRIZES UP F OR GRABS
For Tickets
FUND@STCOLUMBASHOSPICE.ORG.UK or call 0131 551 1381
A PIE A N D A pint BEER, GLASS OF WINE OR A CIDER
INCLUDED IN THE TICKET PRICE £75 for a team of 6 OR £15 PER HEAD
St Columba’s Hospice is a registered charity. Charity No. Sc003634