Thanking Living Well Hub volunteers
Milestone Marvels £50,000 and Counting!
By Claire Stuart-Paulin, Senior Fundraiser
By Heather Hardie, Lead Practitioner
And Helen’s daughter and son-in-law, Maria and John, joined in the fun. Helen took charge of baking, while Maria and John were the top sellers at local gala days. Sadly, John died from pancreatic cancer, but the awe-inspiring duo continued fundraising in his memory. ....................... For years, Maria was a regular at car boot sales, but when Covid struck, she changed her approach,
In 2019, Jamie was diagnosed with bowel cancer, discovered after he submitted his bowel screening kit. However, with a quick diagnosis and treatment, he received the all-clear. This has motivated John to encourage everyone use their screening kits, as it saved his life.
The Living Well team recently gathered to express gratitude to its collective of volunteers, who play a vital role in helping deliver the Living Well Hubs across various locations in Ayrshire. This marked the first time the volunteers had been together since before the Covid pandemic, making it a delightful afternoon of catching up and reacquainting with old friends. Volunteers support staff at the Hubs in various ways, including providing transport, contributing their skills and hobbies to the groups, and simply lending an ear for a chat with patients.
Helen, Maria, and John are continuing their incredible
fundraising efforts this year. With their local community’s support, we are confident they will continue to achieve their personal annual target of £3,000. Thank you, Helen, Maria, and Jamie, for your ongoing hard work and dedication to the Ayrshire Hospice.
If you can spare a couple of hours a week and are interested, you too can support our Living Well Hubs. To learn more about this opportunity, please contact Heather via email at heather.hardie@ayrshirehospice.org
Helen Flanagan and her daughter Maria Slaven have been on a fundraising journey for the Hospice since 2000, and in December they reached a major milestone in raising over £50,000 for the Ayrshire Hospice.
Occupations Matter to Living Well
and began selling on Ebay to raise money for the Hospice. Helen also embraced Shoppix, converting everyday shopping receipts into vouchers. Every pound Maria saves with these vouchers is generously donated to the Hospice. ....................... When Maria remarried, her second husband, Jamie, wanted to get involved. He started making his famous tablet and this year recruited local business, The New Cafe Royale in Girvan, to sell it for them.
The Occupational Therapy service enjoyed a magical day at the Ayrshire Hospice Winter Fair, showcasing beautiful creative occupations that had been handmade and kindly donated by patients attending Living Well Services, raising an amazing £515. You might be wondering, ‘What are occupations to live well?’ In the context of Occupational Therapy, ‘occupations’ are the core building blocks of life. They encompass more than just work or paid employment; occupations include any activities that are important to us, things that we need, want or enjoy doing.
Occupational deprivation or disruption to living well is often experienced due to life-changing circumstances, illness, or disability, which can, in turn, impact physical and mental health and well-being. Occupational Therapy practice is centred on your well-being, extending beyond mere diagnosis and limitations to focus on your ability to achieve hopes and aspirations by engaging in activities that matter to you. This involves looking at the relationship between your daily activities, alongside the challenges you experience and your environment, to create goals, activities and a realistic plan. The aim is to support you to experience living well in the way that aligns with your individual values and preferences.
When they popped into our Fundraising Office to hand over their annual donation in December, it was a special
Jamie also hosts an amazing model Christmas Village which he sets up in their home every December. The lights, moving elements and festive music make it a magical experience for everyone who visits, and donations are generously handed over.
occasion as it brought their total fundraising to a whopping £51,070! Helen inherited her passion for fundraising from her mum. When Helen’s mother passed away, she carried on the family tradition, commencing her fundraising efforts for the Hospice.
April 2024 | EDITION 36
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