1 Welcome Spring 2016
Keechmatters The magazine of Keech Hospice Care
YEARS OF CARE
2
Welcome
Letter from Liz
W
riting this message to you, our valued supporters, is a very special start to the New Year for me personally. I have been Keech’s Clinical Director for over three years and was honoured to be asked to take up the role of interim CEO last September. 2016 is a special year for Keech Hospice Care as it is our 25th anniversary. 25 years ago Dr Wink and Iris White set about fundraising for a special place that would provide hospice care for the local community. Those 25 years have seen big changes in the care we provide, however, the one thing that has never changed is our commitment, not just to the
patients, but the whole family. Usually the start of the New Year sees many resolutions being set after a period of overindulgence. If any of you are looking to challenge yourself, please take a look at our events guide for 2016. I am already looking at what I can sign up for! Please do remember this vital charity belongs to you. It is thanks to you and your support we are able to achieve so much for our patients and families. Our commitment to you ensures we will continually develop our services and work hard to educate others involved in the care of people with life-limiting and terminal illnesses, so everyone in our community can make the most of the time they have left.
In this edition Welcome
2
News in brief
3
25 Years of Keech
4
Our work
6
Our care
8
Our fundraising
12
Annual report
16
Our new website
18
Thank you
19
Yours,
Liz Searle
Thank you and good luck, Mike!
I
n August we bid farewell to CEO Mike Keel. Mike joined Keech Hospice Care in 1998 to design and build our new children’s service. He went on to lead both the adult
and children’s hospice care teams as Director of Nursing before being appointed to the role of Chief Executive in 2010. We would like to thank Mike for everything he has done for Keech and wish him the best of luck.
We want to connect with you! Keep up-to-date with all the news from your local hospice. Like us on Facebook
www.facebook.com/keechhospicecare Follow us on Twitter
@KeechHospice
Watch us on YouTube
youtube.com/keechhospicecare Email us at
fundraising@keech.org.uk Visit our website
keech.org.uk
We support... adults living in Luton and South Bedfordshire and children and their families living in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes.
We deliver... a range of services including: in-patient and day services, community services, care and support for children and a befriending and support service for adults in the community. We also have a helpline for all patients and their families whenever they need it.
We need... to raise more than £5m from public donations to deliver our
services this year. This amounts to more than £14,000 a day, every day. We also need volunteers, without whom we could not deliver our range of services to the people who so desperately need them. Email volunteering@keech.org.uk
www.keech.org.uk
Sign up for our lottery
20
News in brief
Keech Hospice Care wins industry award
Keech Hospice Care won the Annual Report Innovation Award at a national charity award scheme designed to celebrate excellence within the sector for its publication, ‘A Story Like No Other’. The award was for the annual report that best communicates the mission, operations and achievements of the charity in an unusual or innovative manner. Other winners included Unicef, WaterAid and Save the Children. Our report is deliberately brief, focusing on our care priorities rather than all aspects of our hospice. It was accompanied by an animation, which can be seen on Keech Hospice Care’s YouTube channel, and was viewed more than 3,000 times within 10 minutes of being posted on Facebook. It has now been viewed over 6,000 times on Facebook and 2,800 times on YouTube. If you would like a copy of the report please contact communications@keech.org.uk
Palliative Rehabilitation Team Our Keech family has grown as we have welcomed Occupational Therapist, Lunar Summers. She is soon to be joined by a Physiotherapist and together they will make up our Palliative Rehabilitation team. Lunar will be working at the hospice and in patients homes providing people with individually tailored knowledge, advice and exercises to help patients be able to cope and manage their symptoms better. As well as the one-to-one sessions, Lunar will be running a number of expert groups for patients such as breathlessness management and fatigue management. Having our own Occupational Therapist and Physiotherapist is a great step forward and means we can support and reach more patients than ever before.
Keech Fest generates over £13,000
Our summer music festival was a huge success, despite two hours of non-stop rain. Thanks to everyone who came and supported the event, as we managed to generate over £13,000. More than 3,000 people attended, witnessing our back-toback line up of live music, bar, BBQ, stalls, fully booked afternoon tea and children’s enchanted forest. A special thank you to the many volunteers who provided support on the day, especially, as we did not realise quite so many people would turn up! It was such a hit, we have decided to do it again for our 25th anniversary - Keech Fest 25.
Keech’s care to spread wider across Herts If you have ever visited our Children’s Hospice you’ll know just what a special place it is. During a recent trip to Keech Hospice Care, The High Sheriff of Hertfordshire and part owner of McMullens Brewery in Hertford, Fergus McMullen, was so moved by his visit, he has committed himself to chair a development board to fund the expansion of our Children’s Service in Hertfordshire. Fergus has already invited potential board members to visit the hospice where they met some of our children, parents and staff. During their visit, our families gave them such a warm welcome, all the board members are now signed up and an official launch will take place next month. Mr McMullen’s commitment will enable us to gain support right across Hertfordshire in a way we have never been able to before. We are extremely grateful to Fergus for his support, time and commitment to this huge project.
3
Keech wins London Luton Airport Partnership 2016/17 Jazz Supremo Jamie Cullum, McBusted’s Harry Judd and awardwinning chef, Jean-Christophe Novelli are just some of the well known names who’ve helped us win the opportunity to be London Luton Airport’s charity partner for 2016/17. Being the Airport’s chosen charity for the next two years is an excellent opportunity and will mean we can continue to support patients and their families.
Tiggy Marchant’s four year old son, Oliver Marchant, was supported by Keech Hospice Care after being diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, a cancer of the central nervous system. Tiggy was one of the many Keech parents who led the charge to get people voting. “Without Keech, I know as a family things would have been very different for us,” Tiggy said. “I want other families to be able to have the lifechanging support we’ve had from Keech and I did all I could to make sure Keech won.” Thank you to everyone who helped spread the word and who clicked for Keech to help us win the public vote and be crowned the winner.
www.keech.org.uk
4
25 years of Kee 1991
The Adult Hospice opens its doors to patients as Luton and South Beds Hospice
DER N UNTRUCTIO
CON
S
1999
The £3m Children’s Hospice appeal target is reached and construction begins
1993
Our first of shop starts trading in Dunstable
2000
Keech Cottage Children’s Hospice is officially opened by HRH Princess Royal
1994
The First Lights of Love remembrance service is held in the hospice grounds
2002
The hydrotherapy pool is opened
£3m
2007
The Children’s Hospice is still the only children’s service across Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, and now Milton Keynes is also added in
2011
The Day Hospice is refurbished becoming Keech Palliative Care Centre (KPCC)
2008
Our first annual Santa Run starts, with around 600 runners taking part each year
2012
Keech Hospice Care celebrates with its own beer for its 21st Anniversary
YEARS O www.keech.org.uk
Our campaigns
5
ech Hospice Care 1995
Our Christmas float, Smiley Sam begins, raising £440k to date
1996
The lottery is launched. It has raised £8.4 million to date
1998
The Adult Hospice is re-named ‘The Pasque Hospice’, after the charity’s Pasque flower emblem
33
2003
The Children’s Community Team is expanded following a three year grant from the New Opportunities Fund
2005
HRH Countess of Wessex visits Keech Cottage to celebrate five years since it opened
2006
A tea party for 100 guests is held in the hospice gardens to celebrate 15 years of care at the Adult Hospice.
2009
2010
2014
2015
Esther Rantzen officially opens our new adult in-patient unit, boasting eight en-suite bedrooms
The My Care Coordination Team is launched to provide care for patients in their homes
The charity is renamed as ‘Keech Hospice Care’
The official opening of the Alan Titchmarsh garden with the launch of KeechFest
OF CARE www.keech.org.uk
6
Our work
Children in Need funding for Keech O
Natalie Watson
ur new Family Support Worker, Natalie Watson, has been funded by Children in Need since August. So what difference will her role make to the children Keech look after? Until Natalie began working at the hospice, Steve Andrews - Keech’s Bereavement Care Worker - provided bereavement support across the whole hospice. However, we knew with the right help, we could do so much more for families. Therefore, we decided to apply for Children in Need funding to help us with our mission. “There was a need for a separate adult and children’s support worker to be more available to families for one-to-one support and to have more of a presence on the unit as much of the support comes from having general conversation with families,” said Natalie. So, is Natalie enjoying her new role at Keech? “I love it!” she said. “I really love working with the children and it’s a very good organisation careerwise. I also enjoy being in an office with such a supportive team. The role is varied and involves the whole
family. There’s lots of learning and flexibility and I get the opportunity to go out to visit families at home and in schools – it’s not just based at the hospice.” “At the initial training day in Norwich we had to come up with three differences we are going to make and plan how these would be recorded,” said Natalie. “The first difference is to increase children’s self-esteem, the second is to reduce isolation and the third is to improve communication. Two iPads have been funded by Children in Need to allow me to record these objectives and we will perhaps do this in the form of an interactive survey for the children. I’ll also be writing case studies on individuals to show the differences I’m making.” So, what does the future hold for Natalie and Keech? “I want to develop the role, increase referrals to the hospice and provide support to more people,” Natalie said. “I just want to ensure help is readily available and to reflect the need that’s there.”
We don’t just care for the patient I
t is a common misconception that we solely care for the patients at Keech Hospice Care. In fact, the care we offer encompasses far more than that. We look after families as a whole, throughout illness and afterwards too. We offer pre and post bereavement support to all members of the family, whether they are an adult or child, parent, sibling or spouse. “It is very important people feel they are supported at such a vulnerable time in their lives,” said Clare Burden, Supportive Care Lead at Keech Hospice Care. “We receive the referrals and then we assess the family and talk things through, telling them what we offer and advising the most appropriate support for them.” The Sparklers group for 5-19 year olds at Keech Hospice Care was originally set up as a sibling support group, but in the last 12 months it has expanded to include all children and young adults that have someone in their life who is dying or suffering www.keech.org.uk
with a terminal and life-limiting illness. Past activities have included trips to the theatre and museums, swimming days, reptile visits, music and art therapy, as well as talking support, which is provided by Steve Andrews, our Bereavement Care Worker, and Natalie Watson, our Family Support Worker. “The Sparklers group helps the children to build self-esteem and form new friendships. It also gives them something that’s theirs,” said Steve. Members of the group can sometimes feel ‘left out’ at home due to their sibling receiving more attention because of their condition, or, their parent may not be able to interact with them as they did before, because of the diagnosis. Sparklers gives these children the opportunity to be with others going through similar experiences. To find out more about bereavement support for the whole family, please visit our website at www.keech.org.uk
A reptile visit to the Sparklers
Client: Source: Date: Page: Reach: Size: Value:
Keech Hospice Care Luton on Sunday (Main) 09 August 2015 5 62107 225cm2 432
Our work
7
What would be your lasting legacy? R
ather than dwelling on the “if only”, Tony Jules, a patient in Keech Hospice Care’s in-patient unit, set himself the mission to raise
A message from Tony
“
I’m so grateful to have been able to achieve my final mission and know my final legacy is in place before I die,” Tony said. “Thank you everybody. To see all of the messages of support on my Just Giving page is overwhelming and has spurred me on, not only with my fundraising, but with life in general. To have donations and kind words from people who have never met me and never will is heartwarming. Luton and its community have been so supportive. When I
£40,000 from his hospice bed to buy Tony’s angel for others after he’s gone – the cost of a nurse for one year. How many people do you know
who would do that? Tony’s selfless act continues to hit the headlines as television, radio and newspapers follow his incredible story.
saw my angel mission had travelled as far afield as Ghana, the United States and Brazil, I was amazed. I will never forget the morning a gentlemen and his wife came to drop off an envelope for me here at Keech. They were from a local pub and the pub regulars had decided to have a whip round. The envelope was stuffed full of £1,000 in cash. One Monday morning another envelope arrived in the post at Keech, it was anonymous and just included a note which said: “For Tony’s Angel” and contained a cheque for £5,000. There are some very kind people in this world. They are some of the big donations but
as I’ve said from the very start ‘every penny counts,’ and I still stand by that. I am more tired now than when I first set about getting my angel. My body is letting me down but my spirit is still very much shining on. I pray it’s not the case, but if others are ever unfortunate enough to find themselves in a similar position to myself, I hope they’re fortunate enough to have the excellent care and support me and my whole family continue to receive. It makes me happy knowing others, and their families, will benefit from my angel. God bless you and thank you all.” www.keech.org.uk
8
Our care
Never a journey too far for Keech
Jakub and his mum, Edyta www.keech.org.uk
”
I just want to be alive.
“
Our care
K
eech Hospice Care is far more than just a brick building in Luton. Everyday, our nurses and specialist care team are in homes, schools and hospitals providing the best support and services wherever it’s needed, whenever it’s needed. “I guess I’ve got used to the look of shock I see that spreads across people’s faces when I tell them about Jakub,” said Mum, Edyta Steczkiewicz. “In fact, sometimes I now sit and wait for the look, I know will soon appear, as people struggle to comprehend and take in what I’m saying.” At only six year’s old, Jakub from Luton is one of only a handful of people to have ever had five of his organs transplanted at the same time - twice. “What Jakub’s been through is rare,” Edyta said. “He’s the only person ever to have had two multi-organ transplants at the London Hospital where he’s treated and where we’ve spent so many months of our lives. But Jakub’s also still just like any other little boy – cheeky and funny. He makes me laugh so much. When Jakub was born my husband, Artur, and I had no idea anything was wrong but it soon became obvious. Jakub has Hirschsprung’s Disease, which affects his bowel. He has a stoma bag and is fed through a tube. In 2014, Jakub had his first multiorgan transplant – it failed. I sat in intensive care last year in January not knowing if my little boy would survive but praying he would. His body had rejected every organ - his small and large bowel, liver, pancreas and part of his stomach. His immune system had also been totally wiped out and the smallest germs still makes him so ill. Not only had the transplant failed, but Jakub also got cancer. People ask me how I felt – numb. Jakub has spent so much of his life in hospital. He’s missed out on so much other children his age have done. Things, that as a Mum, you take for granted your child will just be able to do. I guess that’s one of the hardest things. Jakub’s only ever been to school for one day in his whole life. He picks up infections so quickly so he can’t play outside or really mix with other children. It’s hard, we can’t make any plans. If Jakub’s temperature rises, that’s it, we’re off to the hospital straightaway. Jakub and I have spent so much of the past two years in hospital. My husband has to keep the family going
financially. Artur works as a delivery driver all over the country so we go weeks with only seeing each other at weekends. Me, staying at the hospital in London with Jakub, Artur at work from 5am until late and coming home to an empty house. It was hard and I don’t think people realise the strain having a sick child can put on a relationship. What you planned and dreamt about and how you thought life would be, turns out to be nothing like it – but we get through it. After his transplant failed, Jakub recovered enough to be moved out of intensive care and back into a normal hospital room. Seeing your normally smiley boy looking so sad, in pain and desperately wanting to just go home is horrible. Jakub was depressed, he didn’t talk and he felt like a prisoner. I couldn’t even take him out for a walk around the hospital’s grounds for fear of him picking up an infection. His body just couldn’t cope with it. So there we were together, shut up day and night for months on end in a hospital room. I can honestly say Keech Hospice Care is the best thing ever. We found the charity at a time in our lives when we were so scared and needed help. Keech is so much more than just a building in Luton where people go to die. I really don’t think people realise what the charity does out in the community. Keech’s play specialist, Jennie Collier and the charity’s brilliant volunteers visited Jakub in hospital in London every week. To see their faces and know our local hospice would come all the way to London to help ensure we were okay was amazing. Through play, Jennie C would bring Jakub back out of his shell. Jennie brought craft equipment and together she and Jakub would make things to decorate and brighten up Jakub’s hospital room. Charlie the Music Man would bring his keyboard, which he’d play and sing with Jakub.
9
Jakub loved it – he loves singing. Being in hospital for so long, Jakub had become wary of medical professionals. He’d had enough of being poked and prodded and he stopped talking. He would get so frustrated and shout for the medical staff to go away and leave him alone. Jennie and Keech’s amazing volunteers just made Jakub feel like a normal little boy. Keech supported me and Artur too. We were so scared and had such mixed emotions about putting Jakub through the same transplant operation again. What was the right thing to do? But when Jakub said, ‘I just want to be alive,’ he made the decision for us. In August last year, we went ahead with the multi organ transplant for the second time. We came home last November and I was so happy to see Jennie and Keech’s volunteers at my front door. I can’t tell you what it means to sit down or take a break for just five minutes knowing Jakub’s in safe hands and with people who bring his smile back. One of Keech’s volunteers is helping Jakub with his education and schooling him at home. As a mum, it’s hard not to keep thinking Jakub is only alive today because another mother’s child isn’t. It’s something I think about a lot. I often get asked when we’ll know if Jakub’s second transplant has worked. The only certainty we have is it can fail any day, so, as a family, we live in the now - not the tomorrow.”
Jakub and his play specialist, Jennie www.keech.org.uk
10
Our care
When opposite world’s collide
Sarah visiting Amelia at her home
A
ccording to Mother Teresa, “Loneliness is the leprosy of the modern world,” and those who have experienced it first-hand would probably agree. Having a terminal illness can mean it becomes more of a struggle to get out and about, existing friends may shy away or sometimes it’s just easier to talk about how you really feel to someone who’s not close family. For many, Keech’s Hospice at Home Service is a lifeline and can make all the difference not only to a patient’s life but to a volunteer too. www.keech.org.uk
Our care Amelia Ledwidge, Patient The first time Sarah stepped through my front door I thought we weren’t going to get on. Then she started talking and I said to myself, well – I’ve got a very ‘well to do’ one here! I’ve said it to her since. She’s nothing like me. We couldn’t be more opposite. But do you know, I couldn’t ask for anyone nicer. Sarah gets me and I get her. I don’t think anyone else could ever match her. It was Keech who suggested the idea of taking up its Hospice at Home Service and I thought, why not? I don’t go out much; I have no social life at all. I’ve never been much of a mixer. I try and keep busy but at times I’m lonely. Sarah is marvellous and her visits have made a huge difference to my life. Before Sarah came along, I would just go out and do my shopping and that would be it for the day. I must admit, I felt pretty down. Sarah takes me out. If I say to her I’d like to go to the garden centre, we go. We browse the shelves and have a coffee and a chat. Last summer we went up to Dunstable Downs and sat in the car together overlooking the countryside. All the time we’re talking about what’s happened in our week. There’s never a lull in the conversation. Sarah’s given me other interests, she tells me about things happening in her life and it gives me new things to talk and think about. She brings a different part into my life that otherwise wouldn’t be there. I used to find it hard to talk to people and now I can’t stop talking. I’m much more positive. Sarah and I are both good for each other. We don’t demand too much of each other, it’s just very natural. From a complete stranger, I now look on her as a friend who’s made a real difference to my life and I look forward to her coming to see me each week. She’s the sort of person who I can sit with in silence but it’s not an awkward silence – that’s a real sign of feeling really comfortable with someone isn’t it? I would most definitely class Sarah as my friend. I’m so at ease with her and I certainly do not feel as lonely since she’s come into my life. Having a Hospice at Home volunteer has made the world of difference. I would say to anyone who’s considering it, try it. Keech is very good at matching people up and finding that special person you’ll just click with – even if your first thought is that you are worlds apart.
Sarah Dallas, Volunteer Amelia lives just up the road from me in Luton, she’ll be 80 this year and is a tiny, little Irish lady. When I first visited her in October 2014, I thought to myself this lady is lonely and possibly a little depressed. She has a condition which affects her lungs and she struggles with her breathing. I wasn’t nervous about visiting her, my only concern was if we would get on and what would I talk about. But I didn’t need to worry, Amelia likes a good chat. I became a Hospice at Home Volunteer for no better reason other than I was looking for something to do. My youngest child was moving to secondary school and so I had more time. I looked on Keech’s website and saw it under their volunteering section and thought. ‘I’d like to do that’. I spoke to Keech about it, was given some training, but it’s like lots of things in life, you don’t really know if it’s for you until you give it a go I guess – so I did. In the winter months I’ll pop round Amelia’s for a couple of hours most weeks and we tend to stop in more but in the summer, we’re out quite a bit. We both love browsing and browse for an hour or so at the shops or a garden centre. It was
”
11
lovely to take Amelia to Dunstable Downs last summer and she was quite gobsmacked about how much it’s changed up there. We go to pretty ordinary places I suppose, but we really do have fun together. I enjoy the chats Amelia and I have – they’re great fun. We’re very open with each other. We tell each other quite personal things without worrying anyone else will find out. I know Amelia has told me things she would never tell her own family. The whole reason you volunteer is to give something to someone else, but being a Hospice at Home volunteer is also extremely rewarding and I get a good feeling back from doing it. It’s great to be able to give someone something as simple as a couple of hours of your time and know it makes the world of difference to their life. Amelia is certainly in a different place than from when I first met her. She says she really looks forward to my visits and I think she enjoys my company. I don’t think she was too sure of me to start with though! I’m lucky we get on so well and I think of Amelia now more like a friend that I pop in and visit. To find out more about becoming a Hospice at Home volunteer or other volunteering opportunities at Keech visit www.keech.org.uk/support-us/ volunteer or telephone 01582 707958.
I now look on her as a friend
“
www.keech.org.uk
12
Our fundraising
Be inspired! Why do one thing when you can do
five? W
hen it comes to raising money, 33-year-old Ross Coniam has set the benchmark. Now this intrepid uncle is throwing down the gauntlet and encouraging you to give it a go yourself. Ross bravely decided to take on not one but five challenges, in memory of his nephew, Kieran, to make sure other families just like his can be cared for by Keech Hospice Care. 6,000 feet: ‘Am I really doing this?’, I think to myself, as the plane climbs higher and higher. 8,000 feet: ‘Why am I doing this?’ I’m the bloke who’s terrified of heights. I just know if he was here now, Kieran would be giggling his head off at me sitting frozen on the floor of this tiny aircraft. But, he’s not here and that’s why I’m doing it, I say to myself. 9,000 feet: ‘We’ll be flying with Kieran any minute now,’ shouts his mum, Fiona, from the back of the plane. I smile. 10,000 feet – jackpot! I always thought when you did a skydive you jumped out of the plane, but take it from me, you’re pushed! Well, I was anyway. Tumbling, spinning, I’m falling through the air at 120mph and then comes that moment. That magical, fantastic moment – the parachute opens and I’m flying. I’m actually flying! This is just brilliant I think to myself as I glide back down to earth and in a matter of minutes it’s all over, www.keech.org.uk
not just the skydive but a year’s worth of setting myself five fundraising challenges for Keech. From the London Marathon in April, the 100km walk from Brighton to London in May, a 100km River Row in August and finishing up with the 24 hour Three Peaks Challenge and a 10,000ft sky dive in September – I suddenly realise, I’ve actually done it. I fist pump the air, I’ve done it! I’ve done it for Kieran, for myself and for every family at Keech – present and future. I’m totally elated. Kieran died at Keech in October 2014 aged just 10. As his uncle, I’ve
always said he would have been a thrill seeker. I could spin him round in his chair for a good ten minutes and he wouldn’t get dizzy. Kieran battled many health problems in his short life, including cerebral palsy, epilepsy and global development delay syndrome. In 2014, he caught pneumonia twice and was admitted to intensive care on both occasions. During this time, Kieran was also diagnosed with pseudomonas, a bacteria which affects the lungs. Due to Kieran’s weak immune system, he found it hard to Ross during his rowing marathon
Our Fundraising fight the bacteria, and as a result his health deteriorated suddenly. Kieran was supported by Keech Hospice Care for several years. He loved using the hospice’s hydrotherapy pool and Keech cared for Kieran giving us, the family, a chance to have a break. After Kieran died, we all stayed with him at Keech for the five days before his funeral and spent time with him in the special room Keech has. Having those final few days with Kieran was so special. It seemed impossible just to leave him, go home and try to carry on as normal. The bereavement support Keech gave us was invaluable. Talking to other families at the hospice was priceless. Kieran’s brothers played in the hydrotherapy pool and Keech gave them music therapy to help them to start to come to terms with what was happening. Keech looked after us again at the time in our lives we needed it the most. I just can’t praise what they did for us as a family highly enough. It was the same week Kieran died that I got accepted to run in the London Marathon and that’s what kick-started all the fundraising. The marathon was just brilliant. Running alongside 38,000 other people, each doing it for their own personal reasons, was overwhelming. Complete strangers were calling out my name, spurring me on and at one moment
I found myself running and crying at the same time. Running gives you time to reflect and as I ran, I thought about Kieran. Fundraisers from Keech Hospice Care were dotted along the route cheering me on. Even at that moment, Keech were still there helping and supporting me through. The finish was just amazing as Kieran’s brothers and the family cheered me over the line in a time of four hours and 26 minutes. I was exhausted but I’d smashed my target!
”
We’ll be flying with Kieran any minute now!
“
That’s the thing I guess, when we challenge ourselves in life, things aren’t always easy at the time but the afterglow of success - well you just can’t buy it. In all honesty, there were times throughout all five of my challenges I wanted to quit. You have to push through the pain barrier. I thought of Kieran and what he went through. My pain was nothing. As a family we did the London to Brighton 100km walk together. 30 hours of no sleep and having walked all through the night, it got to sunrise and we were still looking at 15km to
13
go. Walking in the dark is nice. In fact, I recommend it. But as soon as the sun comes up your body wants to shut down and I knew we still had another nine hours of walking ahead of us. It was right then I wanted to quit. But Kieran and Keech made me want to carry on. This wasn’t pain I was feeling, it was hard work. So on we went to finish it, together, as a family. Fundraising shouldn’t just be about raising money - it’s about challenging yourself. You’ve got to find something you’d love to do. Try to do something that scares the living daylights out of you or something you’ve never done before. This year I’m getting married – I’m sure my fiancé will be delighted to hear she’s getting her husband-to-be back! (I might slip an odd marathon in here and there, and I hear Keech is organising a brilliant fundraising trek to India in October – Honeymoon perhaps?) But for now, I’m handing the fundraising gauntlet over to you. Please pick it up and run, walk or even fly with it! Make 2016 the year you challenge yourself and, in the process, help a Keech family just like mine. See you at the fundraising start line (just don’t tell the wife!).” To donate visit: www.justgiving.com/rossconiam 2015challengesforKieranand KeechHospice
Ross finishing his marathon
Ross at the Ben Nevis summit
Ross and his nephew, Kieran
Ross and friends at the top of Mt Snowdon
www.keech.org.uk
14
Our Fundraising
Christmas at Keech From mini Santas to shining stars and a very Smiley Sam, Christmas at Keech this year was one to remember. Keech’s Christmas Stars
Seven “Keech Stars” lit up the Luton on Sunday throughout November and December 2015 as the newspaper made us its chosen Christmas Charity. Every week, one of our children, along with their family, shared their very personal and special story as part of the newspaper’s ‘Keech Christmas Stars’ campaign. Rather than giving gifts, as a
Little Santas make a run for it
hospice we find monetary donations allow us to buy exactly what each child needs to meet their specific needs. The money is still coming in but to date our Keech Christmas Stars and the Luton on Sunday have raised more than £10,000. Take a look at some of the very special coverage at, www.keech.org.uk/christmasstars
Smiley Sam
Carson before setting off Santa may be quick on his feet as he makes his way around the world in just one night, but our 550 Santa Runners certainly gave him a run for his money this year. Our Bedford and Luton 5K Santa Runs raised £20,000 for Keech Hospice Care, helping to launch us into the new year on a high. Pupils from Chantry Primary Academy in Luton jumped at the chance to give Luton’s Santa Run a go. Student, Carson Fitzgerald, 8, in particular, had his own special reason for taking part. “I can wear a Santa beard!” said Carson, “I’ve always wanted a beard.” We’re always grateful to all our fundraisers for supporting us.
Our Christmas Appeal
He’s a legend of Luton and once again Smiley Sam braved the cold, dark and frosty nights to travel around the local area. Ringing his bell and chugging along, our much-loved Christmas train brought fantastic festive cheer and fun to hundreds of families. Over 28 nights, Smiley Sam covered www.keech.org.uk
more than 1,300 miles and raised £37,259 for Keech Hospice Care. More than 100 amazing volunteer elves and several brilliant Father Christmases braved the cold and covered 1,000 hours of volunteering, meaning Smiley Sam could once again do what he does best - spread joy!
Our Keech Hospice Care Christmas Appeal was a brilliant success and raised £28,106. One of ‘our mums,’ Jen Carter, whose son Jacob is supported by Keech due his very complex condition, which needs the unique care of our team, wrote a heartfelt letter to our supporters. Jen is an extremely passionate supporter of Keech’s work and we are always extremely grateful and thankful to all of our many parents who kindly share their story with us.
Our Fundraising
15
Events diary Cycle across the country!
Throughout this year we have a range of fantastic sporting events for you to get stuck into, which of course includes an abundance of bike rides. If running isn’t your thing, why not try a bike ride? We have the Prudential London Bike Ride, the London to Brighton, followed by a slightly more brutal London to Paris! Find out more at www.keech.org.uk/whats-on
In 2015, we offered a challenge that would involve the whole family - with a twist! On a fabulously sunny day in July we held our first Colour Dash 5K event and encouraged our supporters to do something brilliant for Keech by adding a splash of colour to their day! This amazing event saw participants walking, dancing and running around Luton’s Wigmore Valley Park, dotted with Colour Bandits ready to pelt them with brightly coloured powder. If you take part in this rainbow-tinted event, your white T-shirt won’t know what’s hit it. By the time you’ve finished the route, you’ll be coated in a kaleidoscope of colour! Last year saw over 550 runners braving the Colour Bandits and raising a magnificent £33,394 between them.
“It was a great event and an excellent idea,” said Gillian, who entered last year. “The marshalls were great; clapping and cheering as we went round. I’m really looking forward to it this year!” Emma said, “It was a wonderful experience and at the end of the run we didn’t want to go home.” So, will you, like Gillian and Emma, do something incredible for Keech this year? To join our Colour Dash visit www.keech.org.uk/colourdash Why not ask your friends and family to sign up as Colour Bandits and shower you with colour? Entry includes sunglasses, T-shirt, 3 x colour pouches, a medal and a goody bag on completion.
Keech Fest returns
Some of you may remember our fantastic summer festival we threw last year. Well, we’re doing it again in 2016 to celebrate Keech’s 25th anniversary on 11 September. There will be more performances, more stalls, more food and drink and even more fun to be had by all! For more information visit www.keech.org.uk/keechfest
www.keech.org.uk
The difference you make
16
Introducing our new Annual Report...
Hospices care for the living
Keech Hospice Care uses annual report to bust dying beliefs
W
hen speaking to patients about their experiences at Keech Hospice Care, we often hear how surprised they are to discover how warm and welcoming Keech is and how much support they can access. The same is also said by many of our visitors. There is a large gap between what people expect and the actual reality. Sadly, some people still think hospices are only places where you go to die. At Keech this worries us enormously. Everyday, we see and hear about the value we are adding to patients lives, but what about the ones who are too scared by the word ‘hospice’ to ever walk through our doors? It is vital we get across the message that we are not just here for the very end. To help us do this we have used our latest annual report to dispel public assumptions www.keech.org.uk
that hospices are only places people go to die. The report has a black front cover with the message: ‘Most people think hospices are where you go to die’. Turn the page and the reader sees a complete contrast with bright colours and the message, ‘Keech – a hospice full of life’. Our current annual report ‘A hospice full of life’, shows nearly half of all adults we supported in 2014/15 across Luton and South Beds actually went home after being in the hospice. For the children we support across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Milton Keynes the number is even higher with 88% going home. People may be shocked to hear these numbers. However, these are important numbers for us to get across. They show hospices are not only places people go to die – in fact,
it may sound strange to some, but it’s actually where living happens, not only for the patient but for the rest of their family too. We also produced an animation, which can be viewed on our Keech YouTube channel (www.youtube. co.uk/keechhospicecare) to accompany our annual report, and again illustrate Keech is not simply a place of death and dying, but a hospice full of life. All of our 33 Keech shops across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Milton Keynes displayed the annual report within the shop. Eye-catching art work, which mirrored the graphics used in the report, dominated every shop window further promoting that Keech is a hospice full of life. If you would like a copy of our annual report, please contact communications@keech.org.uk
17
£5.2 million is needed to provide our hospice services
264
70 100
different animals visited to help create some extra special memories
entertainers performed at the hospice
372
calls to advice line (adult service)
2,443
overnight stays
1
unicorn visited our Tots and Toys group
We still need to reach 1,538 adults who need our help living in Luton and South Bedfordshire
200 47 ladies took part in our Star Walk
(and raised £28,000)
167
family members were supported by our children’s service
family members were supported by our adult service
729
adults and children were supported (474 adults, 255 children)
3 counties
are covered by Keech: Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Milton Keynes
children attended Sparklers sibling support group
4,183,000
is our total retail income
£3,145,000
was raised by our supporters, corporates, trusts and fundraisers
We still need to reach 500 children who need our help living in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Milton Keynes www.keech.org.uk
18
Our hospice
A new website for Keech
O
ur old website was created in 2009 at the same time as the organisational rebrand which saw the Pasque charity renamed as Keech Hospice Care. Seven years down the line, by web standards, it was positively ancient. A website is often the first contact supporters have with an organisation and this is certainly true for us, but we desperately needed a revamp. The old site was not only looking dated, it was difficult to navigate and slow to update. Unfortunately, before our new site was ready, the company hosting our
www.keech.org.uk
existing one went into liquidation leaving us without a website. Thankfully, the new site wasn’t far from completion but it meant we had to go live before it was fully tested. Now, our shiny new website, created by web company tictoc, is up and running making it even easier for people to find the information they need. The images are larger and more eye-catching, and the text is succinct and more impactful, describing the services we offer at Keech in a more meaningful way. The different areas we operate in – Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Milton Keynes are also much more distinguishable; a key message that is yet to reach some areas. If you log on to www.keech.org.uk you will see a totally different looking website that can be accessed on your mobile and tablet. Supporters can now book an event, donate online, apply for a job and you will soon be able to book hydrotherapy pool sessions and buy from our online shop. Health professionals will also be able to make online patient referrals
and families and carers will find it easier to view and access the services and information relevant to them. Phase two of the build will involve ensuring the smooth running of all the new functions as well as the implementation of a new fundraising resources section to make it easier for people to fundraise for us. We are also hoping to extend the choose and book facility from the hydrotherapy pool to the other therapies we offer. We hope you enjoy using our new website. If you have any comments or suggestions please email website@keech.org.uk
Thank you
19
Thank you from Keech Care
Dreams Come True Super Shoes Rays of Sunshine Harriet from POD Charlie the music man
Charitable Trusts & Councils
A&S Lass Charities Ltd Allchurches Trust Ltd BBC Children in Need Beaverbrooks Charitable Trust Bedford Borough Council Bedfordshire & Luton Community Foundation Caron Keating Foundation Christopher Laing Foundation D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust Frank Branston Charitable Trust Harper Trust Houghton Regis Town Council Ibbett Trust Lexus Foundation The Lynn Foundation Margaret Giffen Charitable Trust Montague Thompson Coon Charity Mrs B L Robinson’s Charitable Trust Santander Community Foundation Shanly Foundation True Colours Trust Together for Short Lives Yorkshire Building Society
Corporates
5 Rings Telecom 612 ABInBev Alexander & Co t Allianz Alto Digital Amazon Amey Arriva The Shires & Essex
Autoglass Bartham Printing Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce Beds Battery Company Bellcross Homes Blue Chip Customer Engineering BP Brook Street Butterfields Building Supplies Carillion Civil Engineering Centreparcs (Woburn) Chiltern Door Systems Clover Environmental Solutions Clydesdale & Yorkshire Bank CMP Financial Shillington COMAU Conical Costa Coffee Costain Carillion Join Venture A5-M1 Cruise Select Delicio DHL Supply Chain Elster Metering FAB Audio Visuals Fladgate LLP Frosts Garden Centres Give a Car Govia Thameslink Griffin Construction Harrods Aviation Hays Heart FM HSBC Hospice UK Impellham Indigo Residential Estate Agents Investec JAP Sound Jelprint JNB Publishing Leica Microsystems Lego Lindair Media Lloyds TSB London Luton Airport
Smiley Sam and some of his wonderful volunteers
Jakub and his Lego donation LV Hitchin Machins/Hardwicke Chambers Mather Marshall Estate Agents MBDA Systems McCarthy & Stone McMullen & Sons Measurement Technology NatWest Nethercott Funerals Ocado Pacific Direct Personal Group PPF Group Pratts Bananas Response Personnel Royal Sun Alliance Sainsburys SA Law SCA Hygiene Sharegift SixOneTwo SKF UK Smartcomm Smith Medical Spreadex SSG Tesco Supply Chain The Mall TUI Group Vauxhall Motors VWFS Vocalink White Mountain Whiteley Fischer
In the community
We would like to thank Friends of Keech, Bedford for organising and manning the Bedford Christmas collections with the new sleigh. We would also like to thank Friends of Keech, Luton for all of their invaluable help with Keech Fest. Over 3000 people attended and the day was a huge success! Finally, we would like to thank all of our volunteers who generously donated their time throughout 2015. Your support is invaluable and we look forward to working with you in 2016! www.keech.org.uk
20
Sign up for our lottery
A New Year, your new hospice lottery S
tarting in April, you will now have almost four times more chances to win in the Keech Hospice Lottery, with the number of prizes increasing from 40 to a staggering 152. 1st prize is £1,000, 2nd prize is £250 and there are 150 runner-up prizes of £5. And if that’s not enough, lucky lottery players will also have the chance four times a year to win a top prize of £3,000 in our bumper draw! The proceeds raised from our lottery
help us to support and care for 1 in 10 of our patients. Costing from as little as just 14p a day, your lottery support will help to ensure we’re able to reach out to those patients and their families who need our help. Signing up to play couldn’t be easier, simply complete the form below, visit www.keech.org.uk/support-us/lottery or contact our Supporter Relations on 01582 497814 to get involved today. Good luck!
YES! I want to play, win and help! Your details Title
Forename(s)
Surname
Address
Postcode
Tel no Email I confirm that I am 16 or over and a British resident Signature Date Data protection As a valued supporter of Keech Hospice Care we will treat your data with the utmost respect and never sell or swap your details with anyone else. We would, however ,like to keep in contact with you about our care and how you can help people living with a terminal and life-limiting condition. Please tick if you would like to opt out of communication via: Please tick if you would like to receive: Emails Texts
Post
Phone
Payment by standing order To (name of your bank)
Please enter me for the following:
Address
Postcode
Account in the name(s) of Account no
Every month
weekly chance(s) @ £4.34 = £
Every year
weekly chance(s) @ £52.00 = £
Signature
Sort code
Please send your completed form to: Keech Hospice Care Lottery, Great Bramingham Lane, Streatley, Luton, LU3 3NT
Please debit my account and rush the money to: Payee: Keech Hospice Care Lottery, NatWest Bank Plc, 4 High Street North, Dunstable, LU6 1JU Account No: 41190203 Sort Code: 60-07-08 Please pay on receipt and until further notice.
Please quote reference:
Charity No. 1035089
www.keech.org.uk
Date
(To be completed by the hospice)
Tel: 01582 492339 info@keech.org.uk www.keech.org.uk