Dora’s Story

Starting 1st December 97 as a Health Care Assistant Dora has worked at St Mary’s for the past 17 years. She’s done a variety of different roles over the years, from working on our In-Patient Unit to being out in the community fundraising. “St Mary’s have supported me when I’ve had to change job roles because of my health. People here have the Hospice at heart.”

Dora was very fond of working on IPU. “It was a hard job role and some people only did a few days. You’d come in one day to see someone then have a day off and come back in to see they’re not here. I feel like when I was on IPU people would ask how you can work here and I’d just think I’m doing my best to help people in their last days.”

In 2001 Dora had a problem with her back so had to leave her role but she didn’t want to leave the Hospice so she started her new role as Event’s Organiser. “I liked being on IPU and the events. At an event you’d meet people whose relatives you’d looked after and because I’d worked on IPU I knew the Hospice very well so I could answer any questions from the community.”

In her role as Events Organiser Dora would attend a variety of agricultural shows, Lakeland roadshows, Holker garden festivals etc. “Through rain and shine, we’d be out in any weather holding collections tins. There were times when it’s been pouring down and you’d have to be towed onto a field to do an event. I just wanted to help raise money and I mostly enjoyed meeting people out in the community. We did some crazy things to raise money over the years like the time we put on a fire walk. But the public were always there for us to help raise funds when we were struggling. I feel like I’ve helped being here so long and knowing the history. Everyone always says if you need to know anything go ask Dora”

Dora now volunteers in our fundraising team.