“You’ll be raising money for a really good cause”
Our community supports us in all kinds of wonderful ways. Iris recently stayed on one of our wards and told us how the hospice has really helped her and her family. She also told us how she and her neighbours raised money for us each Christmas with a dazzling festive light display.
“I was diagnosed with cancer of the womb. It came back rapidly and I was referred to St Catherine’s. Things happened quite suddenly but I knew of the hospice as my partner died here in 2008. He had cancer and the hospice was very good in caring for him.
The hospice has been marvellous for me too. I’ve only been here a week but I’ve had lots of visitors and the nursing staff are lovely. I can’t fault them. Without St Catherine’s I’d be stuck at home 24/7 which would be a nightmare. If you ever find you have to come to St Catherine’s, you shouldn’t worry as everything will be alright. Just relax – that’s the main thing.
After my partner became unwell, my neighbour, Deryck and his wife June, started fundraising for the hospice. Every Christmas about 8 houses in our road (Petworth Drive, Horsham) would deck themselves out top to bottom in Christmas lights and decorations. We did it for around 10 years and over the years, we raised around £74,000.
It was a great thing for the community and people would come back to see our displays year after year. We had some incredible reactions and we’d even bring Santa and some real reindeers into our gardens for a day. Santa would give out presents to the children and people would give a donation to the hospice.
St Catherine’s relies on the support of all of us and I’d encourage you to think about something you’d like to do to raise money, then try and do it. You’ll be raising money for a really good cause.”
Have Iris and her neighbours sparked a fundraising idea of your own? Then contact our Community Fundraising Team on comfun@stch.org.uk or by calling 01293 447361.
