A PATIENT at the Hospice of the Good Shepherd in Backford has raised £300 in just three weeks through various fundraisers as an appreciation for the care they have received.

The hospice is open 365 days a year to provide free palliative care for local people with life-limiting illnesses. Pat Ryan was a patient at the hospice during the Christmas period.

As a way of saying thank you for the care she received, Pat contacted various local businesses asking if they would be willing to donate free beauty treatments as prizes for a raffle all in aid of the hospice.

Pat said: “I like to be pampered and have my eyelashes done so I thought it would be a good idea to have a raffle with these as prizes. Because what woman doesn’t like to be pampered?

“Within three weeks and with help from my family, we raised £300 for the hospice so it worked quite well.

“I’m going to start another raffle and will be contacting local shops to see what support they can give. I’ve got the ball rolling now and I want to continue raising funds to help because the hospice does such an amazing job.”

Pat praised the hospice for the care she had received, explaining how well people were treated when they come in.

She added: “I’ve done care work for 20 years and I’ve never been anywhere that’s as good and treated people so well. From housekeeping to management, you can approach anybody.

“You’re made to feel welcome and get treated like a person not a patient. It’s almost like being at home.”

The hospice has a wide range of services to help local people with life-limiting illnesses and their families such as bereavement services, spiritual support and family support.

Complimentary therapies are also provided in the Living Well Centre for patients and carers which focuses on managing symptoms and provide a sense of relaxation.

The main hospice in-patient unit consists of 10 beds and is run by a dedicated team of medical professionals.

Pat added: “I could hardly walk when I first came to the hospice but they have done a brilliant job of bringing me back to my old self. I feel human again.”

Now in its 30th year, the Hospice of the Good Shepherd has helped thousands of residents with life-limiting illnesses and relies on donations and fundraising to continue to help even more people in the community.

The Hospice of the Good Shepherd has an annual running cost of £4 million, where less than a third comes from government funding. The remainder is generated through fundraising, donations, events and corporate partnerships.

  • For more information, visit www.hospiceofthegoodshepherd.com, call 01244 851811 or email fundraising@hospicegs.com.