VOLUNTEERS and fundraisers have been rewarded for their commitment and dedication as a local hospice marked a landmark year.
St Teresa’s Hospice celebrated 30 years of the Darlington and District Hospice Movement with a host of awards for its fundraising supporters and volunteers at its annual general meeting.
Honorary chairman Dr Harry Byrne presented framed certificates to hospice staff, young supporters, local school representatives, individuals and organisations, which have all supported the hospice over the past 12 months.
Hospice supporter Emma Wright forwarded her apologies for being unable to collect her Worldwide Supporter award on the evening.
Emma is undertaking a 12-month challenge of travel fundraising for the hospice. This includes sponsored walks, such as the National Three Peaks Challenge, the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, the Bear Grylls Survival Challenge and the Lakes 3000 Challenge.
At the time of the AGM she was half way up Mount Everest and her efforts, to date, have raised £1,218.97 for St Teresa’s.
Chief executive of St Teresa’s Hospice Jane Bradshaw said: “I suppose that’s a good enough excuse for not being able to make it here tonight to collect her award. It just goes to show the lengths people will go to to support the work that we do here at St Teresa’s.
“We offer such a wide range of services and our team is second to none offering support not just to our patients but also to each other.”
Tributes were also made to friends and supporters of the hospice who had recently passed away including 99-year-old Beatrice Cuthbertson MBE, Mike Airey and former trustee and honorary vice president of the Darlington and District Hospice Movement Jean Robson.
Speaking to invited guests, Dr Byrne said: “Last year we launched our 2020 Vision Strategic Plan with a commitment to review services at the hospice.
“A thorough and searching review has now taken place and as a result changes are currently in the process of being implemented to better meet our aims now and in the future.
“Our new inpatient unit has enabled us to admit many more patients and provide a much improved environment. The old unit has been refurbished to house our family support team and income generation teams.”
Dr Byrne also addressed the issue of the rising elderly population.
“We know that there will be increased demand for hospice care in the future but unfortunately this does not come with increased funding,” he said.
“This will have an impact on us and we are now working closely with other hospices in the region to see how best to address this over time.”
The meeting, hosted by Vauxhall dealers Sherwoods at its showroom on Chesnut Street, Darlington, was brought to a conclusion with a rendition of Lean on Me by the Hospice staff and Supporters Choir.