Help provide 20,000 hours of free hospice care in Gloucestershire
When Celia Hicks Beach was told her cancer was terminal, Longfield’s Hospice at Home service meant she could leave hospital and return to her family and beloved family farm. Mrs Hicks Beach was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in December last year and died at her home in Great Witcombe in March. She was 74. The free care she received from Longfield Hospice not only helped her, but her family too.
getting to know them and them getting to know Mum, so that trust built up for when she needed more intensive care. “The Longfield staff were amazing, as they just gave Mum the space to talk through her worries. On the day she died, they were there not just to care for Mum, but to support all of us too.” Longfield believe anyone touched by life-limiting illness should have access to free hospice care.
Currently, hospices in Gloucestershire are only able to help around half of the people referred to them for end of life care at home, but Longfield is hoping to change that. It has launched the Time Together campaign, that is hoping to raise enough money to provide a further 20,000 hours
Daughter Lucy said: “When Mum was due to come out of hospital, she was referred for Hospice at Home care and Longfield were there the next day. “To begin with, it was more about Mum
of free Hospice at Home care each year. Sian Cole, Director of Care Services at Longfield, said: “Our skilled and compassionate staff help provide personal care, as well emotional support not just for the patient, but also for loved ones. “That care continues after the person has died through bereavement support services but we rely on the public’s help to fund the majority of our work. “Without more support, we cannot increase the hours of care we can provide.” The Minchinhampton-based charity provides around 13,000 hours of Hospice at Home care already, with each hour costing up to £60. And in a bid to raise funds they have launched a funding website and text donation line l You can donate online at www.longfield.org.uk/time-together-campaign SMS donations of £10, £15 and £20 can be made by texting TIMETOGETHER10, TIMETOGETHER15 or TIMETOGETHER20 to 70085
Celia Hicks Beach
Longfield is also running a Christmas tree recycling project between January 9 and 13, where volunteers will collect trees from homes in exchange for a donation Registrations close at noon on January 5. To register visit www.charityxmastreecollection.com
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