Dr Helen Clayson receives bouquet of the week

The Trustees and staff nominated Dr Helen Clayson for the award of bouquet of the week with the Evening Mail in recognition of her hard work and dedication to St Mary’s over the last 16 years. Many local people have benefited from Helen’s expertise and she has touched the lives of many local families in her work as medical director at St Mary’s Hospice. She left the organisation on the 28th March at a time when hands-on care of people with advanced illness in the hospice and in their own homes is going from strength to strength and St Mary’s now helps more than double the number of people they were caring for a few years ago due to the addition of the hospice at home service, which Dr Clayson and the team instigated.

All the staff and volunteers wanted to recognise publicly Dr Clayson’s contribution as she headed off into semi-retirement.

Jenny Stalker, Matron said “Helen has been a wonderful doctor, who has helped so many people over the years. She will be missed by us all.”

Zoe Guest, Funding & Operations Manager said “We all just wanted to say a big thank you to Helen for all her dedication to the charity and the empathy she has shown whilst dealing with hundreds of people and their families dealing with life-limiting conditions.”

Alex Tyson 3 Valleys Memorial Ride

The Alex Tyson 3 Valleys Memorial Ride took place on 18th September in 2010. The challenge was completed in memory of Alex Tyson. Alex was a keen cyclist, forming the Broughton Wheelers with like-minded friends, who take part in local and regional bike challenges. Alex bravely fought cancer for 2 years and sadly passed away in 2009 at the age of 45. Members of the Broughton Wheelers decided to host a mountain bike challenge in Alex’s memory. All of the 25 riders knew Alex as a friend, family
member or colleague.

The challenge was to cycle 50km off road from Broughton- in-Furness to Wast Water, by mountain bike, taking in the Duddon Valley, Eskdale and Wasdale – three of the Lake District’s most beautiful valleys.

All proceeds from the challenge were kindly donated to St Mary’s Hospice at Home service, who cared for Alex by day and importantly at night, in his last few weeks. £2500 was raised in sponsorship for the challenge and the team would like to thank all of the local businesses who supported the ride in their own way. Rider Paddy Gannon said “They helped us help St Mary’s Hospice.”

To date, approximately £6500 has been raised for St Mary’s in Alex’s memory by family, friends and
colleagues. St Mary’s would like to thank Alex’s loving wife, sister-in-law and niece for raising £1096, with the help of Haverigg Prison, by taking part in the St Mary’s Walk to Remember. A further £165 was raised when Alex’s colleagues decided to donate to the hospice rather than sending Christmas cards.

The help we receive from the local community is very special and it is what enables St Mary’s to continue to provide comprehensive supportive and palliative care for adults in South Cumbria. We cannot thank enough all of those who fundraised and gave in Alex’s memory to help support our work.