Don’t leave hospice care to chance: Celebrating Hospice Care Week

St Mary’s Hospice is shining a light on the people behind our care as part of Hospice Care Week 2026 (5^th – 11^th October), sharing the stories of staff, volunteers, supporters and Trustees who all play a part in making sure local people can access hospice care when they need it.

This year’s Hospice Care Week theme – Don’t leave hospice care to chance – highlights the importance of everyone doing their bit to make sure patients and families can access compassionate care and support when they face the devastating impact of a life-limiting illness.

From Dementia Activities Coordinator, Leigh, who was inspired to move from a career in fashion to the care sector after seeing the difference hospice care made to her own dad before he died, to Legacy Manager, Alison, who works with people who are considering leaving a gift to St Mary’s in their Will, helping to secure the hospice for future generations.

We are also sharing stories from Jo, a Nursing Associate whose experience of the care her brother received at St Mary’s inspired her to join our clinical team, and Beryl, who has volunteered with u for 18 years after seeing first-hand the difference hospice care made to her late friend. Corporate Partnerships Manager Esmie has personal experience of St Mary’s Hospice at Home service after her grandad was cared for by the team before he died in 2019.

For Gerry, a GP in Ulverston since 1985 and St Mary’s Trustee since 2025, his connection to the hospice is both professional and deeply personal. His late wife was cared for at St Mary’s before her death in 1996, and he has since supported us through fundraising, including completing the Fred Whitton Challenge 16 times.

Gerry said: “The hospice has always been close to my heart and I’ve always done what I can to raise funds for and promote it. I’m so proud to now be a Trustee. The challenge is to try and find ways to contribute most effectively; I’m constantly asking, ‘What can I do better and how can I do more?’”

Emma, a Clinical Administrator in St Mary’s Compassionate Communities Team, has seen how much can be achieved when hospice support reaches people earlier in their journey.

She said: “When people think about hospice care, they often think about the final days of someone’s life. But hospice care is about so much more. At St Mary’s, we can support people from the point of diagnosis, helping them and those around them to live well for as long as possible.”

The stories also highlight the breadth of hospice care. St Mary’s supports people across Furness and South Lakes in a variety of ways, including through its community services, dementia support and Hospice Care at Home, as well as care at its eight-bed inpatient unit in Ulverston.

While the week celebrates the people who make hospice care possible, we are also highlighting the vital role the local community plays in funding its work.

Around 20% of our income comes through government funding, meaning we rely heavily on donations and other charitable income to continue providing our services to local people and their families.

Helen Carlson, Head of Fundraising and Communications at St Mary’s, said: “Hospice Care Week is a time for us to come together and celebrate the life-changing impact hospice care has on local people, but it also gives us space to remind people how much we rely on the support of our communities to keep our doors open.

“Hospice care is something we don’t need, until we do. In fact, nearly one in three people in the UK who need palliative and end-of-life care miss out on the support they require*, but St Mary’s wants to be able to support as many local people as we can. Our services are free to access, but they are not free for us to provide. Therefore, we cannot afford to leave hospice care to chance.

“Whether you donate, fundraise, volunteer, connect or simply share, thank you for standing with St Mary’s Hospice.”