Kind donation from Ulverston Probus Club

The Ulverston Probus Club is a branch of Probus World which is made up of retired professional business persons. The Ulverston club has 38 members, who meet on the first and third Wednesdays of each month.

On the first Wednesday of the month, the club invites guest speakers to talk on a wide variety of interesting topics. One of the clubs' highlight events of the year is their coffee morning which is held in January at the Coronation Hall, Ulverston. All the proceeds raised go to local charities. This year £150 is being given to St Mary's.

Other events take place throughout the year such as lunches, bus trip and on occasion, sporting challenges against the Barrow club.

If anyone is wondering what to do now that they have retired and would be interested in joining the Ulverston club please call one of the numbers below to discuss.

Frank Musker (Secretary) 01229 583898
Bill Ironside (Chairman) 01229 584243

A Walk to Remember 2010

The fourth St Mary’s Walk to Remember will be held in Barrow on Friday, May 14th 2010. As of the 28th April, 580 ladies have come forward to take part, but the Hospice is short of reaching its target of having 1000 ladies join the walk. In the next couple of weeks St Mary’s would like to see as many ladies as possible come forward to take up the challenge.

In 2009, the 630 ladies who took part in the moonlight walk raised an amazing £50000. This was a wonderful achievement, but this year WITH YOUR HELP, St Mary’s would like to at least equal that magnificent total.

The Hospice needs to raise approx £5500 per day to continue providing comprehensive specialised supportive and palliative care for people with life-limiting conditions in South Cumbria. This special care and support is beyond price, but is only possible because of the generosity of those who give.

It costs £10 to register for the 11km (7.5 mile) walk, which will start at 10pm from ASDA in Barrow whom St Mary’s would like to thank for all their support with helping arrange the walk and through the year.

Ladies taking part will once again receive a bag of goodies, which includes a t-shirt, glow sticks and much more. This year the theme for the walk will be pink again and ladies are encouraged to wear their pyjamas for fun!
All participants are asked to register as soon as possible. To secure a place please contact St Mary’s for a registration form.

Call 01229 580305
Email events@stmaryshospice.org.uk
Download from http://www.stmaryshospice.org/events/walktoremember.php

Press Release: BARDS - Barrow Asbestos-Related Disease Support

BARDS – Barrow Asbestos-Related Disease Support

Press release for April 28th 2010

International Workers Memorial Day, April 28, is a day observed by national governments, trade unions and victims around the world. On April 28, we pay tribute to all those who have died from occupational injuries and diseases.

The town of Barrow-in-Furness has a particular reason to commemorate this day. On behalf of the people of Barrow, BARDS (Barrow Asbestos Related Diseases Support)- the local asbestos victim support group - pays tribute to all those who have lost their lives due to hazardous exposure at work or at home to the deadly carcinogen: asbestos. For decades, asbestos-containing products were used in the shipyard and engineering works in Barrow; this dust got into the lungs of the workers. It was taken into their homes on workclothes and loved ones were also contaminated by breathing in the deadly dust. Wives, children, friends and relatives were all exposed to a substance that causes debilitating respiratory conditions as well as deadly cancers. BARDS was formed in 2005 following open public meetings in which the public decided what type of support was needed for victims of asbestos diseases in Barrow and South Cumbria. BARDS provides free access to specialised medical, nursing, legal, benefits, complementary therapies, hospice care, and family support advice, as well as support in bereavement.

For nearly 2 years, UK asbestos victims have been campaigning for a National Centre for Asbestos-related Diseases. Although promises have been made by government and the insurance industry, no money has been forthcoming and no research has begun.

The thousands of UK citizens now suffering from asbestos-related diseases deserve all the support and assistance which can be provided. Their only crime was to go to work; the least the government - of whatever persuasion - can do is to provide what is morally and rightfully their due.

Dr Helen Clayson
Chair/founder
BARDS

Diamould donate competition winnings!

We would like to thank Diamould for their generous donation of £1000!

Diamould is a specialist company designing and manufacturing electrical, hydraulic and fibre optic connectors primarily for use in hostile environments, subsea and downhole. Employees won a Diamould housekeeping competition and decided to donate the £600 they received to St Mary's. The company then made the donation up to £1000.

Pictured: The Mould Shop Team led by Paul Tranter and the Machine Shop Team led by Grant Jeffrey, presenting a cheque to Zoe Guest, St Mary's Fundraising and Volunteer Manager.

'The care given to terminally ill patients has been inspiring' - Lancaster medical student reports

Article from the Lancaster Guardian, Friday, April 02 2010.

Local Band Audio Conspiracy sells debut CD for St Mary's

We would like to thank the local band Audio Conspiracy for raising £220 for St Mary's through the sales of their debut single 'The Other Door'. Band members consist of Adam Shuttleworth on guitar, Elliot Jones on bass, Stephen Fitzpatrick on drums, and Philip Hampson as vocals, guitar and keyboard. You can check out the bands music here: www.myspace.com/audioconspiracyband

Boost for St Mary's Hospice

People nearing the end of their lives in south Cumbria will benefit from major refurbishments of hospice facilities, thanks to a £263,317 Department of Health grant, Care Services Minister Phil Hope announced today.

St Mary’s is one of 123 hospices across the country to be awarded part of a £40 million fund to improve care for patients and families by enhancing and equipping hospices to give better quality care, more dignity and more privacy to their patients.

The funding was committed as part of the Department of Health’s End of Life Care Strategy to provide high quality care for all adults approaching the end of their life, launched in July 2008. The projects will begin in April 2010 and will be completed by 31 March 2011.

Care Services Minister Phil Hope said, “Whether it’s being able to take time out in the garden or having a hoist that enables you to move with more dignity, the physical environment directly impacts on people’s care.

We know that improving the caring environment is something that is very important to people. Today I am delighted to be able to make that a reality in south Cumbria."

David Praill, Help the Hospices Chief Executive, said, “Local hospices play a central role in the delivery of end of life care and we warmly welcome these new funds.

Although hospice care is more than just a building – with many services being provided in people’s homes – the building itself gives hospice care an important physical presence in the community.

This grant will make a huge difference to the quality of hospice environments. The funds will enhance living spaces and equip hospices with some practical tools to meet the wide ranging needs of people with life limiting and terminal illness and their friends and family."

To find out more about the Government’s end of life care strategy, visit http://www.endoflifecare.nhs.uk/eolc/

Help the Hospices is the leading charity supporting hospice care throughout the UK. It represents and supports its 213 hospice members in their vital work on the front line of caring for people with life-limiting and terminal illnesses.