P6 WELLBEING CENTRE’S NEW MEN’S DEN DUE TO OPEN THIS SUMMER!
Issue No.8
P8 A DAY IN THE LIFE OF DR STEVEN MOLYNEUX
Spring 2022
The Raphaelite
KAREN FALL RETIRES AFTER 20 YEARS WITH US! As I now approach my retirement, I naturally look back and reflect on my career. The majority of which has been spent working in the community – first as a District Nurse, then with Intermediate Care before becoming a Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) at St Raphael’s Hospice. I can’t help but smile thinking back to the beginning of my career, as I never really pictured myself working in palliative care at the start. Twenty years ago, I came across an advert by St Raphael’s Hospice who were recruiting nurses at the time. I had heard from my mentor that it was a great place to work, so I decided to give it a go. The rest is history! I quickly learnt over my first few days that St Raphael’s Hospice was a special place. It is dedicated to exceptional quality of life and the precious time that we have got left. Some days can feel exceptionally difficult but the energy within our ward and across our community is remarkable. It’s supportive, kind and uplifting.
Karen Fall in her early years as a Trainee Nurse
Community nursing enables us to build a relationship with our patients. We are guests in their home, where we gain a unique insight into their life and who they are as individuals. It is a privilege. The people I have met along the way have truly impacted my life. My role as a Community CNS has evolved over time. The team at St Raphael’s has grown bigger and has welcomed additional healthcare professionals. It is a multidisciplinary team to ensure an exceptional level of specialist palliative care. We have been able to become even more responsive with acute timings. At the risk of giving away my youthful age, the early days involved controlled piles of paper-copy referrals! The role feels more complex today, however patients and their families have always remained at the very centre of what we do. I wouldn’t be able to look back on my career without highlighting the significance that the Covid-19 pandemic has had over the recent years. Its impact on the way we delivered our service was momentous, as well as the unbelievable teamwork within our organisation that was brought to the fore. The Community Team are often the first point of contact that the public has with our Hospice. We never thought we could find ourselves in a situation that would hinder face-to-face contact with our patients. The team is well placed to help patients and their families through these anxieties. Everyone across St Raphael’s joined forces rapidly to ensure the very best service to our patients, adapting and pushing ourselves to ensure excellence, no matter the climate. May 9th-22nd
IT’S TIME FOR MERTON & SUTTON TO PARTY!
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S I G N U P TO H O S T YO U R O W N S T R E T PART Y !
On a personal level, we were seeing parents within our team juggling their roles as healthcare professionals during a pandemic, while home-schooling their children along with concerns of the safety of their loved ones at home. Our weekly yoga and mindfulness sessions were enormously beneficial to our mental wellbeing over this time. There has always been a strong sense of teamwork at St Raphael’s. Everyone supports one another. It has been a privilege to work with, and visit, so many amazing people over the past two decades with St Raphael’s. It’s a unique organisation, offering a specialist service to the community when they need it most. It has been an honour to work with, and support, each and every family who have let us into their homes and lives during such difficult times. I know that I will miss working in palliative care. I am, and will always be, very proud to tell people that I have worked at St Raphael’s Hospice.y
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Dearest Karen, we wish you a wonderful, well-deserved retirement from the St Raphael’s family!
Hit the sky for our nurses
TakePART part IN in ST St RAPHAEL’S Raphael’s Skydive TAKE SKYDIVEDay DAY
Secure the future of your loved ones now!
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MAKE YOUR WILL FORTNIGHT Local solicitors are offering their will-writing expertise
Make Your Will Fortnight 2022 in exchange for a donation to your local hospice.
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S KY D I V E F O R O U R N U R S E S O N 14 MAY !
www.straphaels.org.uk/skydiveday22 020 8254 2450
Get your affairs in order. Make or update your Will this May.
www.straphaels.org.uk
Registered Charity No 1182636
For the list of participating solicitors, please contact us on: 020 8254 2450; www.straphaels.org.uk/makeyourwill22 Untitled-1.indd 1
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The Raphaelite
TABLE OF CONTENTS P1 P3
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Karen fall retires after 20 years with us! Welcome My lavender is in loving memory of… "Dad always said I was his angel. Now I say the same about St Raphael’s" Remembering William Talbot Staff Profile: Tracy Christmas Volunteer Feature: Lizzie Doherty Wellbeing Centre’s new Men’s Den to open this summer I am a part of a big, caring family through my volunteer role at St Raphael’s! Meet our Hospice Point of Contact Nurse, Jackie O’Grady! Team Quigley take on London’s Half Marathon Winter Walk A day in the life of Dr Steven Molyneux Sharing our knowledge through St Raphael’s GP Masterclass South Coast Triathlon conquered A Starry Night: Corporate Awards 2021 A special time to Light up A Life Lower Morden Lane lights up for St Raphael’s Mervin Kelchure skydives for St Raphael’s Events Calendar 2022
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Hospice Care London Road, Cheam, SUTTON SM3 9DX Tel: 020 8099 7777 Email: enquiries@straphaels.org.uk
Fundraising (Donations, legacies, events and lottery) 1st Floor, Capitol House, 662 London Road, Cheam, SUTTON SM3 9BY Tel: 020 8254 2450 Email: supportercare@straphaels.org.uk
Volunteering London Road, Cheam, SUTTON SM3 9DX Tel: 020 8099 7777 (For Hospice Opportunities) Tel: 020 8254 2450 (For Retail & Fundraising Opportunities) Email: volunteering@straphaels.org.uk
WAYS TO DONATE Thank you for supporting the work we do
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CONTACT DETAILS
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Please be our next retail
volunteer
You can make a donation in the following ways:
By calling Call our Supporter Care Team on 020 8254 2450 to make a donation by card or set up a regular standing order
By sending us a cheque Send a cheque made payable to: 'St Raphael's Hospice' Fundraising Department, 1st Floor, Capitol House, 662 London Road, Cheam, SUTTON SM3 9BY
By going online Click on the Donate button on our homepage at www.straphaels.org.uk
Gifts in Wills and Regular Donations Apply. Support. Give Back. Feel Good. 020 8254 2450 www.straphaels.org.uk/retailvolunteering
To discuss how you can leave us a gift in your Will or make your donations regular, please e-mail or phone our Supporter Care Team on the contact details above.
www.straphaels.org.uk
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WELCOME
We are delighted to welcome you to the Spring 2022 edition of The Raphaelite and share with you what has been happening across our community in the last few months. We have all had the challenge of the pandemic but are now thankfully beginning to embrace being able to do things and engage with our family and friends as we did before. In this issue the focus is on the work St Raphael’s delivers beyond the hospice building and how, with your continued support, we can reach a greater number of people who would benefit from the expert care delivered by our skilled and dedicated teams. The past two years have been particularly challenging for people at home with health conditions so in this issue we profile the work of Tracy Christmas, our Community Services Manager, and follow a day in the life of Steve
Molyneux, our Team Lead for Psychological Support. We also introduce our Hospice Point of Contact Nurse, Jackie O’Grady. These are just some of the team who have continued to work with and support people at home throughout the pandemic. We have a lot to look forward to in the months ahead, from the launch of our Wellbeing Centre’s New Men’s Den, to festive street parties and our annual Lavender Walk. We will also be joining our fantastic team to fundraise in various ways. On 22 April, Nick will compete on the Red Team for “I’m A Director…Get Me Out of Here!” where he will endure grisly challenges for St Raphael’s Hospice. Be sure to look up at the sky for me, Gail, as I skydive in celebration of our Nurses on 14 May. We hope you enjoy this issue. - Nick and Gail
It is easy to get involved! Simply register at www.straphaels.org.uk/streetparty for your free Street Party Fundraising Pack, full of everything you might need to host your own event.
Joint CEO, Nick Stevens, on Team Red for "I'm A Director!"
St Raphael's staff with Joint CEO, Gail Linehan ahead of Skydive
MY LAVENDER IS IN LOVING MEMORY OF… Join our annual Lavender Memory Appeal and receive your personalised keepsake in honour of your loved ones St Raphael’s Lavender Memory Appeal takes place each year in June and invites the community to come together to celebrate the lives of those who are no longer with us. Each supporter receives a special lavender keepsake, personalised with the name of those close to them. With the continued support of Mayfield Lavender Farm, the appeal culminates with an uplifting Lavender Walk. The walk, in celebration and memory of loved ones who have died, starts and finishes in the renowned and beautiful lavender fields and follows a 6-mile route through Oaks Park.
IT’S TIME FOR MERTON & SUTTON TO PARTY!
Special Memory Boards with loved one’s names can be found onsite amongst the blooms. Join us on 25 June 2022 to enjoy the comradery on the walk and support your local hospice. If you would prefer not to participate in the walk, we would still love for you to join. Bring your families and friends for a wonderful day of remembrance and celebration!
Celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee with a street party and raise funds for St Raphael’s Hospice
Joining the appeal raises vital funds for the Hospice and allows our expert care to continue at the heart of our community. Please note that 6 June is the last day for including your loved-one’s name on the Memory Board.
Bring our community together between 2 and 5 June! Sign up for your pack by 18 April
To be a part of this year's Lavender Memory Appeal, please visit www.straphaels.org.uk/lavenderappeal22 To walk in memory of those close to your heart register at www.straphaels.org.uk/lavenderwalk22
020 8254 2450 www.straphaels.org.uk/streetparty Registered Charity No 1182636
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The Raphaelite
“DAD ALWAYS SAID I WAS HIS ANGEL. NOW I SAY THE SAME ABOUT ST RAPHAEL’S” Frank Lyman’s daughter and namesake, Francine, sits down with St Raphael’s to speak about her beloved Dad and their journey with the Hospice. It has been less than a year since Dad passed away and not a day goes by where I don’t miss him. I was his carer, which has made his passing even more of an adjustment for me. St Raphael’s Hospice has been with me throughout the entire process, just as they were there for him. What a special place filled with real life angels – from the doctors and nurses, to the housekeeping staff and the volunteers who greet you at the door with a caring smile each day. Every single person at St Raphael’s Hospice was kind, loving and brilliant to have around us.
His Doctor and Consultants would hold his hand and have meaningful conversations with him, right until the very end. They were acutely aware of his needs at all times, making sure he was as comfortable as possible and cared for with the dignity he deserved. It is the exceptional care, and more than that, it is the human aspect to the care they provide. It’s love. The biggest comfort for us is that Dad honestly loved them in return. My parents were together for over 60 years. They were childhood sweethearts, having fallen in love at 14 years old. They shared every day together until my mother passed away almost 4 years ago. We felt Mum’s passing all over again when we lost Dad, it’s been heart-breaking for us, yet the comfort in knowing they are together right now is immense. My father overcame all the odds throughout his life. He had complications with his health and at one stage was given 24 hours to live. He lived for another two and a half wonderful years. He caught COVID during the pandemic and we couldn’t be with him for three never-ending months, yet he braved it with such strength and sureness.
Frank Lyman enjoying the sunshine while at St Raphael's Hospice
He was a strong man, the most loving and caring person I have ever known. It wasn’t just me who felt that way – over 500 people attended his funeral to celebrate his life! That was Frank, my wonderful father, he truly cared for everyone and it made an impact. St Raphael’s has in fact mirrored these values for us throughout this trying time.
Frank Lyman with his beloved wife, Joyce
In order to give him the funeral he would have wanted, we waited until the 19th of May for lockdown restrictions on funerals to lift. It was truly a celebration! We played Norman Greenbaum’s Spirit in the Sky over the speakers and people overflowed into the streets as there were so many of us. He was loved by all.
“Going up to the spirit in the sky That’s where I’m gonna go when I die When I die and they lay me to rest I’m gonna go to the place that’s the best.” - Norman Greenbaum’s Spirit in the Sky Dad always said I was his angel because of the way I cared for him, going through training to become the carer he needed. I now say the same about St Raphael’s Hospice – who were, and still are, my very own angels.
REMEMBERING WILLIAM TALBOT A devoted supporter and volunteer of St Raphael’s Hospice William Talbot, a steadfast supporter of St Raphael’s Hospice, ran the Hospice’s League of Friends for many years as a volunteer. The League of Friends was a registered charity which raised funds to support the build of the Hospice, launching in 1987. William was a proud member until the charity dissolved in 2012, donating all remaining funds to the Hospice. William and his wife Peggy contributed their charitable fundraising in support of St Raphael’s for many years, for which we are most grateful. William and Peggy hosted
regular quizzes, which became an event that the community looked forward to attending. They also supported grants for nurse education, provided daily papers for patients and kindly gifted items to support patient comfort. Sadly, William passed away on the 8th of February 2022. Our thoughts remain with his family and we are greatly appreciative of William’s many years of volunteering and support for St Raphael’s. William’s son, Gary, reflects on his father’s time volunteering as very happy times in their family’s life.
“St Raphael’s Hospice is somewhere that my family will happily associate with Will and Peggy. They really enjoyed their time as supporters and fundraisers of a great cause. We would like to take this opportunity to thank St Raphael’s and their team for the fantastic work they do for the Hospice and the community.”
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STAFF PROFILE TRACY CHRISTMAS Meet our Community Service Manager at the heart of St Raphael’s Community Team
I have worked for St Raphael’s for almost twenty years, beginning my hospice journey with nightshifts on the In-Patient Unit while my children were little. I then moved into a development post in the Community Team, which enabled me to expand my skillset; working in the community setting requires a broad understanding of how external services fit together to support those living with a terminal diagnosis, wanting to spend quality time at home. Close working and collaboration with fellow healthcare professionals as well as being responsive to the challenges that community working brings has been both enjoyable and testing at times – but always gratifying.
After a nine month post working as a member of a Hospital Palliative Care Team, I returned to St Raphael’s – I missed the team, the ethos of hospice care and the inimitable energy of the community.
Supporting one another is important, as is humour - I’m incredibly proud of the team I work with. What inspires me each day? My team, they are what motivate me. They are committed to delivering the best care and service to the people we care for and constantly strive to improve. They are forward-thinking, where change and adaptation is embraced to support a better experience for our patients and their families.
Shortly after my return to the Hospice, I was appointed as Community Services Manager. I work with an experienced team, consisting of Doctors, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Healthcare Assistants, Hospice Point of Contact, Psychotherapy Team, Occupational Therapist as well as the team leading The Wellbeing Centre. For patients and their families, it is so important that they have access to holistic, person-centred care that acknowledges the often emotional burden of caring for a person as they come to the end of their life. St Raphael’s values the collaborative relationships with the wider healthcare community, such as GPs and District Nurses as well as other specialist services. My role is diverse and requires versatility as well as expertise.
The pandemic made us review and change the way we work. We constantly monitor the way in which we support patients and undertake our role. We had to learn new skills very quickly and adapt at lightning speed. My role is to steer and guide the team on areas to work and improve on. There is huge team spirit and great camaraderie, everyone looks after each other, and that is constantly inspiring.
A group of Community Palliative Care Team members
LIZZIE DOHERTY St Raphael’s Orangery and Wellbeing Centre volunteer
Lizzie volunteers on Tuesdays at the Wellbeing Centre where she enjoys chatting with guests and facilitates art classes, music appreciation, puzzles, armchair yoga, to name but a few activities. You can also find Lizzie at the Orangery on Wednesdays, helping the team manage the onsite hospice café.
“My mum and husband were both cared for by St Raphael’s Hospice. It really is a special place in our community. If I had a million pounds to give back, I would wish to give more! I love the patients and the staff here. As a volunteer, I give to others but it’s largely others who give to me. I honestly get so much in return. There is so much love and comfort to be felt here. St Raphael’s is an oasis of calm in troubled times for families.”
The Raphaelite
WELLBEING CENTRE’S NEW MEN’S DEN TO OPEN THIS SUMMER! The construction of the new Men’s Den is underway and is due to open this summer. Those with life-limiting illnesses in the boroughs of Merton and Sutton and those who have suffered a bereavement will be provided with a comfortable retreat to enjoy as “men together.” The large wooden cabin will offer a welcoming and relaxing space for the community to enjoy. The Wellbeing Centre has offered a weekly Men’s Den gathering since 2017. We know that men often find it difficult to open up and share their feelings and so the Men’s Den provides a space for men to support one another. It began with one guest and has progressively grown into a thriving group. It is a member-led session that offers social and practical support. The sessions are filled with banter and laughs over group quizzes, rounds of pool, board games and so on. Chatting has become the most popular pastime during the sessions, with the group being renowned for being quite a lively bunch! Attendees shared that they would benefit from a physical space of their own. To continue the growth of the group and nurture this vital support network, St Raphael’s felt it was important to make the Men’s Den cabin a reality.
The construction is being undertaken by AJ Building Group, who have generously volunteered to build the new Men’s Den in time for summer. The Wellbeing Centre "Men's Den is like a family - a great space is open on Tuesday, where you can relax and feel like you are Wednesday and Thursday among friends" and offers a variety of sessions through the week for attendees to enjoy, such as Art Classes, Music Appreciation and Armchair Yoga, along with Ladies Afternoon Teas and the Men’s Den. The Wellbeing Centre also offers the Living Well Programme – an eight-week self-management course focusing on health promotion and wellbeing in an informal, friendly environment. Sessions include topics such as nutrition, management of breathlessness and anxiety, as well as how to improve sleep and relaxation.
To book a session or find out more about the Wellbeing Centre, visit www.straphaels.org.uk/wellbeing-centre or call a member of the Wellbeing Team on 020 8099 1722
“I AM A PART OF A BIG, CARING FAMILY THROUGH MY VOLUNTEER ROLE AT ST RAPHAEL’S!” Dave Sinclair came into contact with St Raphael’s Hospice in 2001, when his mum was ill. Twenty years later, he became a valued member of the Volunteering Team. Three weeks into Dave’s retirement from Transport for London he realised that he needed to start a new project. He went online, saw St Raphael’s were recruiting for volunteers and decided to sign up. He beams when he speaks about the Hospice and how much he enjoys his time volunteering, stating that he has a smile on his face every day because of the charity.
Dave is a retail driver. He arrives in the morning, starting his day with a hot cup of coffee before planning the day ahead with his fellow team members and other drivers. He admires the generosity of the people, explaining that even the smallest contribution makes the world of difference. Alongside his volunteering, Dave continues to donate to St Raphael’s and supports our weekly lottery to contribute as much as he can in a multitude of ways.
“I volunteer as a Retail Driver for St Raphael’s Hospice and I love every minute of it! Everyone I’ve met through the charity has a big heart and cares for one another. I saw it first-hand twenty years ago when they cared for my mum and my entire family while she was ill. I now see it every day through volunteering with them. I am a part of a big, caring family through my volunteering role at St Raphael’s!”
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MEET OUR HOSPICE POINT OF CONTACT NURSE, JACKIE O’ GRADY! How long have you been working for St Raphael’s Hospice? I have been a member of St Raphael’s Community Team in various roles, across a span of twenty years and a nurse for over forty years. Many of our roles have evolved over time. My particular roles have developed from my early days as a trainee Clinical Nurse Specialist. I held my own caseload for around a decade and visited patients in their homes. I then became a Telephone Triage Nurse for three years, before becoming St Raphael’s Hospice Point of Contact Nurse – a role that I still enjoy today. Tell us a bit more about Hospice Point of Contact (HPoC) We receive around 1000 referrals a year through our Hospice Point of Contact. “Triaging of referrals” is a valuable service for the Hospice and a specialist resource for our local GPs. It is a very responsive service which I have the utmost respect for. What does a typical day look like for the Hospice Point of Contact Team? We manage and oversee all referrals that come into the Hospice, for the In-Patient Unit as well as the Community and Hospice@Home team. We triage those referrals to make sure they meet the requirements in terms of their palliative care within our localities. Each call and email are handled with the utmost of care. I have to be adaptable according to what the day brings. We are all flexible and responsive to tailor our care in the best possible way for each patient. What do you love most about your role? For me, it was a natural transition moving into palliative care, with the patient being at the centre of everything you do. As a Hospice Point of Contact Nurse, I understand and appreciate the magnitude of the first phone call patients and their families make to us. Throughout the process, it is important for callers to receive gentle, clear and supportive advice at the other end of the line. Communication is key. Our responses are tailored to patients according to their needs. This role highlights the power of being a positive presence, simply to be there for people that need you. I enjoy all aspects of my job. It is a privilege to be part of the Community Palliative Care Team as we continue to develop various roles to ensure responsive and effective services. I have learnt to treasure life through my work at the Hospice. It has taught me to count my blessings each day. I take great pride in what I do.
Family Fundraising with Team Quigley
TEAM QUIGLEY TAKE ON LONDON’S HALF MARATHON WINTER WALK Team Quigley took part in the Winter Walk Half Marathon in London at the end of January 2022, walking together in memory of John and Mary Quigley. It was a true family affair, with children and grandchildren rallying together in honour of their parents and grandparents. They signed up aiming to raise £1,500 for St Raphael’s Hospice. They ended up raising a staggering £10,060! This is a wonderful illustration of a dynamic family coming together in celebration of the lives of their loved ones, while raising incredible funds. “We did it and we saw London at its best, in the glorious sunshine” the family shared. A huge thank you to Team Quigley for this incredible achievement and to each of our wonderful supporters and fundraisers! Every penny enables us to continue offering expert palliative care for free to our community.
Join our Nursing Team and please share it with others. Pick from various roles available and apply at: www.straphaels.org.uk/vacancies
The Raphaelite
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF DR STEVEN MOLYNEUX
CLINICAL LEAD & HEAD OF DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES As a Psychotherapist in palliative care, I know that end of life can have a profound impact on the individual experiencing it and those that support them. We are a small team with a big impact. As the Clinical Lead and Head of Department, I lead and work closely with a team that includes a fellow Psychotherapist, a specialist Palliative Care Social Worker, eight skilled counselling trainees and volunteers, four bereavement volunteers as well as our Pastoral Care Lead, Sister Ann. It’s our job to offer comprehensive, holistic support to all patients in need as well as their loved ones, through any stage required. Tell us a bit about your working day? In truth, I start my day the evening before by checking emails for any urgent referrals or requests, such as a request for a patient who may require more pressing support. I attend numerous team meetings throughout the week, including our Community Multidisciplinary Team meeting (MDT) joined by Doctors, Consultants, Nurses and Healthcare Assistants. We formulate our plans of approach during these meetings, with each of us bringing valued skills and different perspectives to help us plan the best way to support each individual patient and their families. I also have an internal meeting each week with my core team. It’s important as a Head of Department to ensure the wellbeing of my team and that our waiting list of patients and relatives is manageable. I then conduct clinical assessments and allocate them to our exceptional trainee and volunteer therapists who are on clinical placement with us. Additionally, I have my own case load of patients and relatives who I meet face-to-face, via Zoom or over the phone. Home visits are my favourite! What type of counselling do you offer to the community? We offer 1:1 therapy to patients and pre and post bereavement counselling to people connected to them, creating a space for support and understanding, and helping them to face the impact of terminal illness and loss. Therapy is the process of change and it’s never too late to make use of it. I meet with families throughout the day, providing care for the patient and/or their loved ones. We continue to connect with patient's next of kin after they have died, reaching out to share our support if needed. As therapists, we feel it is the greatest privilege to work with people approaching end of life, as they offer a unique perspective as to the meaning and purpose of our lives. It is a hugely rewarding role that extends beyond a job.
how to use different platforms in the best ways and reaching out to everyone who needed us. We responded so brilliantly throughout the Covid-19 crisis. It was hugely important to us to remain a constant support. This time in history has been distressing for our patients and their families, with most of our current work focusing on trauma to support them appropriately through their experiences. What key words would best describe St Raphael’s? Humanity, Humility and Grace. I see these three traits every single day. I have learnt what it means to live by working here. What would surprise people about St Raphael’s? I don’t think people realise how much valuable life is truly lived with hospice care. People often associate hospices with sadness, when in fact they are filled with a happy energy to make the most of each moment. We know everyone here and there is a real closeness. Some days are particularly moving and exceptionally hard. However, through all of the challenges, it is an honour to offer support during these sacred moments. Our patients mean so much to us. It’s something you can feel through the care of each team member. St Raphael’s Hospice is a very special place in which to work. Even after a holiday I look forward to returning. It is a hugely rewarding role and it’s all about relationships. We all work together with a great love for what we do.
May 9th-22nd
Secure the future of your loved ones now!
How did Covid-19 impact your service? At the start of the pandemic, I remember being told on a Tuesday that we were going into lockdown and we had to head home until further notice. It was earth-shaking for us all. By Wednesday morning we were online, learning
Make Your Will Fortnight 2022 Local solicitors are offering their will-writing expertise in exchange for a donation to your local hospice. Get your affairs in order. Make or update your Will this May. For the list of participating solicitors, please contact us on: 020 8254 2450; www.straphaels.org.uk/makeyourwill22
Bereavement Group Session held at the Wellbeing Centre
Book your appointment early, spaces are limited.
www.straphaels.org.uk Registered Charity Number: 1182636
www.straphaels.org.uk
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SHARING OUR KNOWLEDGE THROUGH ST RAPHAEL’S GP MASTERCLASS Health Professional Course held in the newly refreshed St Bede's Centre
We are proud to be able to offer professional development to the medical community. We value our relationships with local GPs and other health professionals, who play a vital part in a patient’s care pathway – from referral and diagnosis to supporting patients throughout their treatment and end of life care. This ensures that members of the community are provided with the very best care, tailored to their individual needs. We launched the GP Masterclass in January 2021. This educational programme of workshops enables us to contribute to the professional development of GPs, sharing specialised expertise and knowledge. This benefits all patients within the community at large. Despite the challenges brought by the Covid-19 pandemic, the masterclass series has been a success, with more than 100 GPs attending virtual events since its launch. With restrictions easing, we have recently resumed face-to-face full-day workshops. The GP Masterclass platform focuses on palliative care topics of interest such as pain management, issues of breathlessness and/or agitation, conversations with patients and their loved ones, the referral process, to name but a few. Experienced Hospice Consultants host each workshop and provide attendees with an interactive Q&A post-session.
Face-to-face workshops offer a breath of fresh air, after countless zoom classes and online learning throughout the pandemic. Attendees have the opportunity to connect and network with other GPs during the session and over lunch which is included in the course fee. “We greatly value our relationships with our local GPs and fellow medical professionals across Merton and Sutton and beyond. The GP Masterclass is an opportunity to keep GPs up-to-speed on the latest developments in palliative care”, explains Dr Gaby Tamura-Rose, who has spoken at a number of sessions at the GP Masterclass Workshops. Dr Tamura-Rose adds that “during the course of each workshop, GPs are encouraged to ask questions and offer their professional opinions. It is a wonderful way to connect and share our expertise and experience within the local medical community.”
The next GP Masterclass is taking place 14 September 2022, inviting all GPs, GP Trainees and Junior Doctors to attend. www.straphaels.org.uk/events for more information or to book your seat
SOUTH COAST TRIATHLON CONQUERED Adam Cresswell took part in the South Coast Triathlon on 21 August 2021 for St Raphael’s Hospice, in memory of his Grandad, William “Bill” Clack. He hoped to raise a target of £1,500 for the Hospice, yet raised an outstanding amount of £2,283 and an additional £387 in Gift Aid! “My grandfather was cared for in the last few months of his life by St Raphael’s Community Team. In addition to receiving the very best specialised care, my entire family were supported and cared for by St Raphael’s.
Adam Cresswell at the South Coast Triathlon
Adam with his late Grandfather William “Bill” Clack
That is why I wanted to race for them, it was my way of showing appreciation and saying thank you. I don’t think people realise that this expert care is offered to the community completely for free. This was my way of giving back to my local hospice. It was also a very special way to be a part of something great in memory of my wonderful Grandad.”
The Raphaelite
A STARRY NIGHT
St Raphael’s reflects on “A Night Full of Stars 2021” – the Charity’s first Corporate Awards Ceremony We were delighted to host our first Corporate Awards on 17th September 2021, creating a Night Full of Stars to honour the local business community who continue to support us. The event welcomed over 50 attendees, with five categories of awards being presented during the evening. Corporate Award Winners 2021
The Award Categories, Nominees and Winners for 2021: 1. HOSPICE HERO AWARD
2. HEART OF THE COMMUNITY AWARD
Going above and beyond in support of the Hospice on different platforms Nominees: Bob Watson - RWW Plumbing & Heating Lula Zacaria – Adam’s Fish Bar Debbie Hayhurst – Surrey Ceilings Neil Wadsworth – Neil Wadsworth Electrical Ltd
Recognising the impact that a business has on our wider community Nominees: DCL Insurance Hudson Lodge Retirement Home W A Truelove and Son Funeral Directors Mayfield Lavender Farm
Winner: Neil Wadsworth Electrical Ltd
3. LONGSTANDING CHARITY PARTNER Appreciation of a longterm and unparalleled commitment to supporting St Raphael’s Hospice
Winner: O’Halloran & O’Brien
Winner: Hudson Lodge Retirement Home
4. NURSES AWARD Exemplary responses by companies and individuals to our calls to action, always helping where they can Nominees: Sainsbury’s (North Cheam) AJ Building The Lodge Brothers
Winner: The Lodge Brothers
5. BEST ENTERPRISING BUSINESS Innovation and creative thinking, turning business opportunities into fundraising ideas Judged by Nominees: Dragon's Den star, Wendy Richard - Theo Paphitis The Nappy Lady Paul Bailey – Bailey Ahmad Business Recovery Kingston Estates
Winner: Wendy Richard, The Nappy Lady
“As the local Hospice for Merton and Sutton, it gives us great pleasure to be able to recognise and thank the local businesses which have continued to support us, despite the challenges we have all faced. Our aim is to be at the heart of our community and their generous support and engagement with the Hospice helps us to achieve this. Congratulations to all 2021 nominees and award winners, your contributions help us put the exceptional into every day. We hope to continue this award ceremony year on year, shining a light on all of the stars who continue to make St Raphael’s possible.” - Nick and Gail, Joint CEOs
A big thank you to Bella Blue Events for adding extra magic to the evening! Kayleigh from Bella Blue brought the venue to life with her incredible balloon displays. We are hugely thankful for her dedicated support. Balloon display by Bella Blue Events
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A SPECIAL TIME TO LIGHT UP A LIFE
As we put together this Spring issue of The Raphaelite, we look back on the special Light Up A Life appeal hosted online over Christmas 2021. With the challenges and uncertainty brought by the pandemic, our community certainly came together to raise a remarkable £88,795 for the Hospice. The candlelit service was opened by the Putney & Wimbledon Brass Band, with a recital of “Once in Royal David's City.” This was followed by a warm welcome from Joint CEOs Nick and Gail, sharing a message of togetherness and support to the communities of Merton and Sutton.
The programme followed with a moving message from Dr Steven Molyneux, Clinical Lead & Head of Department of Psychological Services at St Raphael’s. The Epsom Male Voice Choir performed “Away in a Manger”
which opened for Reverend Donna Williams’ message of hope for us all. St Raphael’s Healthcare Assistant, Ruby Osei, recited a beautiful poem before lighting a tribute candle on behalf of the Hospice. St Raphael’s ceremonial Christmas Tree was then illuminated for all viewers to see, in honour of all loved ones who have passed. The memorial candle flickered throughout the festive season. This light continues to shine year on year through the immense support shared. With special thanks to WA Truelove and Sons Ltd, The Rev. Donna Williams, Epsom Male Voice Choir and Putney & Wimbledon Brass Band.
LOWER MORDEN LANE LIGHTS UP FOR ST RAPHAEL’S The Lower Morden Lane community have become renowned for their festive Christmas light displays over the last 20 years! Each year, their street becomes illuminated in aid of St Raphael’s Hospice, bringing the entire community together over the Christmas period. We are thrilled to share that the Lower Morden Lane community raised an incredible £17,172 over three evenings for the Hospice. A huge thank you to each community resident and volunteer who continue to keep the lights shining bright for us, our patients and their families.
MERVIN KELCHURE SKYDIVES FOR ST RAPHAEL’S St Raphael’s team member tells us why he’s excited to join the upcoming Skydive Day for International Nurses Day “It’s not about being brave” Mervin explains. “It’s about enjoying the moments of your life by doing what you really want to do. I have been gifted with today and I have always wanted to skydive, so why not sign up!” Mervin was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer in November 2021, temporarily leaving his Facilities Team to begin his path of recovery. After intensive cancer treatment, Mervin recently returned to the workplace. Upon his return, he was immediately excited to hear about the upcoming Skydive Day for International Nurses' Day and enquired about signing up. Mervin enlisted his youngest son, Denzel, to help put together his JustGiving page. “If I can fundraise a bit of money through this skydive for St Raphael’s and our amazing nurses, it’s well worth it” says Mervin. “This way I get to give back outside of my everyday job, for such a great cause, while skydiving for the very first time.”
A few colleagues share their thoughts on their friend’s upcoming skydive “Mervin’s known for his big smile which we’ve all missed. It’s good to have him back at St Raphael's. We may think he’s a bit crazy to be jumping out of a plane but we’ll definitely be on the side-lines cheering him on, with our feet firmly on the ground!” – Pete Morris, Facilities “An experience of a lifetime for a great cause. We’re rooting for you, Mervin!” – Steve Cresswell, Facilities Manager “We’re delighted Mervin signed up to join the team and we love seeing his enthusiasm for the upcoming skydive! He’ll be in good company jumping alongside our Joint CEO, Gail, some of our amazing nurses as well as our wonderful supporters!” – Samantha Bourne, Events Fundraiser
Mervin Kelchure, Facilities Team Member at St Raphael's
At the time of going to print, Mervin exceeded his target by raising £575 for St Raphael’s Hospice, and counting! To support Mervin, visit www.justgiving. com/fundraising/merv-kel22 If you would like to join our team of skydivers and experience a free-fall from over 10,000 ft reaching speeds of 125 mph, register at www.straphaels.org.uk/skydiveday22
The Raphaelite
2022 EVENTS CALENDAR WIMBLEDON HALF Date: 10 April, 29 May & 7 August Start: Wimbledon Common
LONDON2BRIGHTON TREK Date: 28 -29 May Start: Richmond
RICHMOND HALF Date: 17 April, 26 June & 14 August Start: Richmond Park
STREET PARTY Date: 2 - 5 June Venue: Your street!
SKYDIVE DAY Date: 14 May Start: Old Sarum Airfield, Salisbury JURASSIC COAST CHALLENGE Date: 14 -15 May Start: South Coast - Corfe Castle
LAKE DISTRICT CHALLENGE Date: 11- 12 June Start: Kendal Basecamp LAVENDER MEMORY WALK Date: 25 June Start: Mayfield Lavender Fields, Banstead
COTSWOLD WAY CHALLENGE Date: 25 -26 June Start: Cirencester Basecamp
LONDON TRIATHLON Date: 6 -7 August Start: London SNOWDON AT NIGHT Date: 6 -7 August Start: Snowdonia National Park
SUPERHERO IN THE CITY FUN RUN Date: 6 July Start: London
THAMES BRIDGES TREK Date: 10 September Start: London
PEAK DISTRICT CHALLENGE Date: 9 -10 July Start: Bakewell Basecamp CHASE THE SUN RUN Date: 20 July Start: Wimbledon Common
INFLATABLE COURSE Date: Various dates Venue: Various counties SCAN FOR EVENTS PAGE
14th May
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Registered Charity No 1182636
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St Raphael’s Hospice Lottery is licensed and regulated in Great Britain by the Gambling Commission under account number 56991.
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St Raphael’s Hospice, London Road, Cheam, SUTTON SM3 9DX Tel: 020 8099 7777 St Raphael’s Hospice, Registered Charity No 1182636
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