Suffolk hospice asks for public help to give patients special Christmas
St. Elizabeth Hospice in Ipswich have launched their 'Be A Star' campaign to raise funds this festive season
Last updated 17th Nov 2021
St. Elizabeth Hospice are calling on people in Suffolk to help them give their patients a special Christmas this winter. As part of their annual charity 'Be A Star' campaign, they are encouraging Suffolk residents to contribute in whatever way they can and support the hospice make Christmas time a special time for those under its care.
"It can be through buying a Christmas card from one of our retail centres, donating money to the hospice, or taking part in our Christmas lucky dip that will take place on the 25th in Lowestoft", explains Pauline Donkin, Head of Individual Giving and Supporter Care at the hospice.
For many of their patients, this year could potentially be their last Christmas. Ms Donkin says they want to ensure that it'll be a memorable celebration for those patients and their families. " We want to make the occasion as special as possible, so our teams will be working to make sure that patients are comfortable and pain-free, all throughout Christmas", she adds.
Leanne Mann's mother Lorraine Brown was under the Hospice's care in Ipswich in 2019. She says, "We had booked a cottage to have time away together as a family, but unfortunately her health took a downturn and it became apparent on 20th December she would be unable to leave the hospice. "
“This didn’t matter at all and we all embraced the idea. The hospice staff arranged for us to have a bigger room so that on Christmas Day we could have six of us and her newly born grandchild together."
“We knew deep down this would be our last Christmas together so with the hospice’s help we made sure it was a very happy Christmas full of food, presents and lots of time spent together”, she added
Ms Donkin says they want to provide the same experience for all their patients but that it wouldn't be easy without support. " This year we will be looking after around 865 people, both in the community and in our hospices. All this comes at a big price so donations will go a long way", she adds.
They have also organised a memorial service at Ipswich's St Mary le Tower church for people to remember those they have lost in the last year. "On the 19th of December, and people come along and have a time of reflection and we will be lighting candles during the service and taking the time to remember those who are not with us this Christmas", she says