FUNDRAISERS young and old were recognised for their unstinting service as a much-loved hospice celebrated another successful year.
Marathon runners shared the limelight with volunteers, staff with school children, as St Teresa’s Hospice marked another year serving the people of Darlington, South West Durham and North Yorkshire.
Chief executive Jane Bradshaw outlined the year’s highpoints as she addressed guests at the charity’s annual general meeting, staged at Sherwoods in Chesnut Street, Darlington.
“We spent the year striving for the same goals; to provide excellent palliative care, with good governance, and extending the hospice’s reach as far as possible in terms of both geography and conditions,” she said.
“This is the most amazing resource and we can all be very proud to be associated with such a fantastic cause.”
The meeting heard of the success of the opening of the new 10-bed in-patient unit, the annual Midnight Walk, charity ball, inaugural Bark in the Park event and the £500,000 worth of benefit unpaid volunteers had provided.
The St T charity shops also came in for high praise for providing a unique, high quality service and a secure and regular income for the hospice.
Hospice chairman Harry Byrne said the 30th anniversary year had been memorable for many reasons. “The in-patient unit has been a marvellous achievement, one which has exceeded all expectations,” he said.
“We have not only launched our vision for 2020 but already begun work evaluating every aspect of the hospice to improve it further in the future. I have every confidence we will continue to achieve great things because we have such a dedicated staff, volunteers and supporters.”
Hospice president and Sherwoods managing director Alasdair MacConachie commended Mrs Bradshaw, who has been chief executive of the hospice for the past 20 years.
“It has been a great team effort but every great team needs a great leader,” he said. “She has brought us to where we are today and her leadership, vision and command have been truly stunning.”
Yvonne Rowe, whose letter to the press sparked the hospice movement in Darlington, was also singled out and guests were urged to support a Christmas fair she is organising at the Cockerton branch of St T’s, on November 26, from 10am.
Award winners
Young supporter: 405 Squadron Air Training Corps (Cadets), Nicholas Mackenley
Excellent supporter: Marc Ellis, Margaret Grey, Mike Clark, Terry Evans, Thelma Pincombe, Kath MacLeod, Jon Baker, Brian Heritage, Angela Howey, Helen Whitton, Fl Lt Peter McKeen, Sgt Sarah Swinscoe, RAF Leeming personnel, Linda Purdie, Ann Marie Gardner, Scott Marshall, Rachel Mason, Mike Allen, Sarah Roberts, Robert Williamson, Liz Parnell, Ken Campling
Team of the Year: St T’s shop staff
Worldwide supporter: Grant McTaggart, Jill Deane, Sandra Bower, George Turnbull
Banks and building societies: Marc Graham, Kirsty Geany, Barclays Bank staff Darlington, Karen Hornsby, RBS Darlington, Kay Lamont, Lloyds Bank, Darlington
Honorary life members: Mike Sunley