Support for Hospiscare

Hospiscare is a local charity, providing free, high quality care and support to people with a progressive life-limiting illness and those close to them across Exeter, Mid and East Devon and North Dartmoor, from Highampton to Lustleigh and from Lydford to the Teign Valley. 

It was originally launched by Dr John Searle when he moved to Exeter and worked with the Bishop of Crediton to initiate a local hospice service. In 1982 more than 400 people crowded into Exeter's Guildhall for the launch of a £350,000 public appeal to establish a community based nurse service covering six miles from the cathedral. In the ensuing years, thanks to tremendous public support and the very hard work of volunteers, the hospice at Dryden Road in Exeter opened, followed by extended nurse services and day hospices in Mid and East Devon.

The incredibly valuable work carried out by the Hospiscare team can only continue thanks to fundraising. For example, this spring, Angela and Heather from the Hospiscare Okehampton Fundraising Support Group picked up a cheque from Waitrose staff in Okehampton for £500. The donation was given to Hospiscare as part of Waitrose’s Community Matters scheme. 

‘We really appreciate Waitrose supporting local charities like ours,’ said Hospiscare community fundraiser Susie Healey.  ‘Our Okehampton support group are all volunteers who work so hard raising funds for Hospiscare.  It’s fantastic when a business in the area gets involved and contributes to the team’s fund raising efforts.’

Susie said volunteers were always very much welcomed by the fundraising teams. She added: ‘If anyone reading this has some spare time and would like to join a Hospiscare support group in the North Dartmoor area, we would love to hear from you.  There are fundraising support groups in Chagford and Okehampton and it’s a great opportunity to make new friends as well as helping a local charity.’

For more information contact Susie Healey on 01392 688062 or email s.healey@hospiscare.co.uk