Dougie Mag autumn 2014

The

Dougie MagAutumn 2014

Volunteer your time

You make the difference

A year to remember

Page 6 and 7 Page 8 and 9 See Page 14

Caring for the Future

Douglas Macmillan Hospice provides palliative care across North Staffordshire and surrounding areas for adults facing life-limiting illness

for supporters of Douglas Macmillan Hospice

Please read the full story on page 12

We are Douglas Macmillan Hospice, our friends call us Dougie Mac

2 Dougie Mag Summer - Autumn 2014

Inspiration is everyway with brave individuals such as Stephen Sutton raising millions for charity and no make-up selfies taking the country by storm earlier this year.2014 has started with a bang for Dougie Mac with over 800 supporters taking part in the Family 5K Walk & Run in April with over 1200 riders once again taking part in the Bike Ride at the Michelin Athletic Centre.Ladies flocked in mass to our biggest ever MINI Moonlight Walk painting Stoke on Trent pink for one night.

Because of youDouglas Macmillan Hospice was able to provide care, comfort, dignity and support to over 2,500 local people during our 40th Anniversary year. It’s hard to believe that it’s been over forty years since we received our first gift of £50,000 the begin our Hospice journey.

It is thanks to you that our 40th Anniversary year was so successful, and it is because of you that we look forward to providing care in your community for the next 40 years. Our Ruby year began with a celebration here at the Hospice where staff and volunteers came together to commemorate a special achievement and culminated with the visit of The Duke of Gloucester (page 7) in May, which was a magnificent way to end a truly inspirational year.There were so many highlights that it’s nigh on impossible to list every single one here, but you will find many of them in our brand new look supporter magazine.However you chose to support the Hospice, whether it was our record breaking events, leaving a gift in your will, playing the Lottery or at one of our shops (page 4), your donations ensured we were

available to the people of North Staffordshire when they needed us most.We are set to open four new shops in 2014 in the Westlands, Silverdale, Cheadle and Meir which will offer a unique range of items, as well as expanding our Mini Mac brand to different areas of North Staffordshire.As we look to the next forty years, we turn to the immediate future where we have the opening of our new Day Therapy Unit, which will provide an unprecedented level of care for patients who come to the Hospice. We have also launched the extremely exciting Memory First project in partnership with St. Giles Hospice in Lichfield (page 12), which extends the Hospice’s services to patients with dementia. Being the first of its kind to launch in the country, we’re extremely proud to be part of such an

innovative initiative.All these wonderful achievements fill us with pride and inspire us and hopefully will inspire you to continue to support us.I hope you enjoy reading this edition of the Dougie Mag, and thank you in advance for your support, in helping us make a difference today, for where we hope to be in the future.

Michelle Roberts, Chief Executive

Following an unforgettable 40th Anniversary we’re calling on you to ‘Be Inspired’ to raise as much as you can for Douglas Macmillan Hospice.

Last year Richard Stonier raised £55,000 through a year of fundraising and following in his footsteps is Debbie Ptak who hopes to raise £10,000 for the Hospice.

So ‘Be Inspired’ and contact the Fundraising team today on 01782 344304 or e-mail [email protected] and see how we can help you boost your fundraising and raise as much as you can for the Hospice.

Be Inspired

Dougie Mag Summer - Autumn 2014 3

These are the proud words of 41 year old Debbie Ptak; whose father Roy Batho was being admitted to Douglas Macmillan Hospice in November 2013 after being diagnosed with stomach cancer for the second time in just five months.

“My father had previously been diagnosed with cancer in July and had been operated on, and was informed it was a 100% success. We never suspected that the cancer would come back so soon; but it did with a vengeance.”“We got the news on 1st November that he had terminal cancer; the doctors told us he could have three weeks or three months, they just didn’t know.”“He was admitted to hospital the next day, but by Thursday his condition deteriorated and I pushed for him to come to the Hospice.”“As soon as he was admitted he seemed at peace.” “He was being very sick as the cancer was just going through him so quickly; but he was never left in pain at any time and was treated with the utmost respect by the

“We told Dad he was going to a five star hotel and that’s exactly how it felt....”

doctors and nurses. He was treated as an individual and the gracious man he was.”“My Dad was a person again, he wasn’t just a patient in a hospital, and that’s what we will always be grateful for.” “After my father passed away I went into the planning of his funeral, and it was the day after the funeral that everything hit me; and I didn’t know where to turn.”“I came to the Hospice again and was told I could see a counsellor, which helped me so much.” “I’d never been that close to cancer

before and seen how destructive and destroying this vile, horrible disease is; that’s my inspiration for the challenges I have set myself.”“My husband Steve has been my absolute rock since my Dad passed and still is.”Debbie has now set a target of raising £10,000 for Douglas Macmillan Hospice in memory of her father Roy by undertaking a series of challenges throughout the year.“This will be my father’s legacy,” she said.Debbie’s fund raising has already begun with a sponsored nude ‘Dare to Bare’ photo shoot with BCaptured Studios; with plenty planned including a Sky Dive.“My Dad would be cursing because his picture is everywhere at the moment and he was never one for the public eye. It’s to carry on his legacy and ensure that other people benefit from what we did as a family and other families experience the same.”

We we’re delighted to scoop the Sport in the Community Award at the The Sentinel’s Sports Personality of the Year Awards held at the King’s Hall, Stoke in June.The Hospice was nominated on the back of its contributions to the sporting community of North Staffordshire; these included our Family 5K Walk & Run, Bike Ride and Moonlight Walk which

Sport In The Community Award collectively raised £270,000 in 2013.As well as this we also encourage supporters to compete in high profile events such as the recent Potters Arf and the London Marathon.Dave Harrison from Ageas Insurance Solutions added,“What a worthy charity to win this award.”If you’re interested in joining one of our events please visit www.dougiemacevents.co.uk

Get in Touch01782 344304

[email protected]

www.dmhospice.org.uk

/dmhospice

@DougieMacStoke


When DMH Palliative Care Sister Rachel Beech signed up for the Born Survivor run, little did she know that she would be joined by 121 more Dougie Mac supporters at Lowther Castle in the Lake District on Saturday 5th April.The team was coined the tongue twisting Fuddy Muckers by organiser Claire Powner, and collectively they have raised an incredible £7,646.45 in sponsorship.Born Survivor is not for the faint hearted either, with the 10km obstacle course designed for military professionals as a training base. Here Rachel shares her experience leading up to the event,“Originally Claire asked the group what charity we as a team would like to support with Born Survivor; and the response was resounding for Dougie Mac. A lot of the team members have had someone they know use the services the Hospice

Baring is CaringAfter the sterling success in 2013, BCaptured Photography returned earlier this year with their ‘Dare to Bare’ campaign which has raised over £8,000 this year alone.The risqué fundraiser called on ladies to bare all and have their pictures taken and get sponsored to raise funds for the Hospice.BCaptured then took to Facebook and gave the general public the chance to vote for their favourite picture, with the winner being the one with the most likes during the allotted one week period.Jo Lowe from Biddulph raised £500 in sponsorship and commented,

“At the start of the year I said I wanted to do something I’d never done before, and I saw the Dare to Bare campaign on BCaptured’s Facebook page and decided to go ahead and do it.

provides,” Rachel said.“I based my decision on the amazing work I see each day in my role as a Palliative Care Sister. We trained at Caveman Training in Fenton, and gradually the team just got bigger and bigger and we all really bonded.”After putting in the work with some extra training sessions organised by Caveman it was time for the big day with two coaches full of ‘Fuddy Muckers’ ready to take Born Survivor by storm.“It was a truly amazing experience and something I never thought I would do, but looking back on it I was really proud to support the Hospice. There were a lot of us with different fitness levels, so we all chipped in to help each other around the course,” Rachel added.If you would like to know more about supporting Douglas Macmillan Hospice in a challenge event please visit www.dougiemacevents.co.uk

Mucking in for Dougie Mac Go West-Lands!In July we were delighted to open our 19th shop on Paris Avenue in Westlands, Newcastle under Lyme.On Saturday 12th July customers queued around the block ready to visit the new store and grab some bargains. Head of Retail Yvonne Colclough, has revealed exciting plans to open a further two shops later this year.“We were delighted with the opening of our new Westlands store, we had plenty of supporters come through the doors on the day. We’re also looking at opening new Mini Mac shop in Meir and Silverdale and Cheadle later this year,” she said.This comes after the sterling success of specialised retail sites Wedding Dreams in Norton, Vintage by Mac in Stoke and the first Mini Mac store in Kidsgrove during 2013.Do you have any pre-loved items you would like to donate? We have 19 shops across North Staffordshire which needs stock, to find your local Dougie Mac shop please visit www.dmhospice.org.uk ; and if you would like to volunteer in one of our shops please email [email protected]’

“I did the shoot thirteen weeks after having a baby, but the ladies were wonderful and totally put me at ease.”

“My Grandad was cared for by the Hospice so I know first-hand the sort of support the Hospice requires and hope all the money I’ve raised will help support many more families who require their services.”

The great news is ‘Dare to Bare’ is coming back with a twist this November for Man Up Month, with the men getting in on the act and baring all for their local Hospice.Keep your eyes peeled on www.dougiemacevents.co.uk to find out more about Man Up Month and Dare to Bare.


Light up a Life in the CommunityLast year we held our first Light up a Life in the Community which attracted over 3,500 people, who took part in a ceremony which included performances from many school choirs from the area and Stoke‘s Top Talent finalist Shae Maunders on her ukulele.

This year’s event will take place on Sunday 14th December at the Britannia Stadium. This year we intend to have even more schools and local community adult choirs involved, including the newly formed Dougie Mac Choir which is made up of staff and Volunteers from the Hospice. During this year’s ceremony, all those attending will be able to take part in our Dedication of the Light to remember loved ones by lighting up the Britannia Stadium with their

From sponsored walks to hosting Spanish theme nights, fund-raiser Linda Lehane has helped to raise over £100,000 for the Dougie Mac.She began her involvement with the Hospice in January 1996, when her mum, Patricia Cartlidge was diagnosed with cancer and firstly became a day patient and eventually became an In Patient in November in the same year before she passed away. Linda said; “The care that was afforded to my Mum made a permanent impression on myself and my family, it was just second to none”.About six months after her Mum’s death, Linda went to the Hospice Shop in Newcastle to carry out some volunteer work in order to show her gratitude and to give something back. Soon, Linda found herself organising her first charity night at the Hempstalls Inn in Newcastle. Over the last 18 years, she has arranged a whole host of events, including Quiz Nights, Race Nights, Auctions, Fashion Shows, Summer Parties, Sponsored Walks, Book Fayres and many Variety Shows.

For the past 17 years, Linda has always supported the Light up a Life Campaign by making a donation in memory of her Mum. Linda said; “Christmas is always a very special time when most families get together. It is also a time when we remember loved ones and that is why I always have supported this Campaign, which enables me to shine a light on the Hospice Christmas Tree in memory of my mum, knowing that my donation helps to ensure that the care given by staff and volunteers at the Hospice is maintained. I certainly will make another donation this year”. If you would like to make a donation to this year’s Light up a Life Campaign, please visit www.dougiemacevents.co.uk for further details.

Linda Lights Up LivesOver a year ago we started to consider the future for the hospice in recognition of the challenging and changing health and social care environment in which we operate and we have now developed a 5 year strategy to address some of the demands.

One element of the strategy was to examine how we could deliver care closer to home. Two projects have already been piloted off site for bereavement support and body image. Our Director of Community Services Chris Ekin was delighted to share more information on the strategy.“The care close to home plan will see us pilot a delivery model for palliative and end of life care that encourages the development of patient choice, independence and supportive care,” she said. We are aware that 40% of the frailest patients die within 1 year (data in this health economy has identified 1600 frail elderly patients who have the highest healthcare usage). This group of patients is growing and current patterns of care are not meeting their needs and are not sustainable.We have considered how we can meet the needs of this group of patients. Improving services closer to home involves consideration of developing access to local services for people, but for many people home may be a residential or nursing home. A new project under development currently is to look at providing additional support for frail elderly people in residential and nursing homes to enable them to remain in their place of care. To get more information on the Care Closer to Home projects please contact Chris Ekin, Director of Community Services at [email protected]

Care Closer to Home

light sticks. Liz Clarke, Head of Fundraising said;“Last year was truly a memorable Community occasion which gave families and friends the opportunity to come together and remember loved ones. We are so pleased that Stoke City Football Club has allowed us to use their wonderful facilities once again and we hope that that this year’s event will attract even more supporters old and new”.


Thank you... for making our 40th Anniversary a year to remember

Their Director Paul Smith had already raised £10,000 the previous year from taking part in the London Marathon; and after finding out it was our 40th put the wheels in motion for some unforgettable fundraising.Churchill China produced a limited edition mug (pictured) to commemorate our ruby year, with every mug sold ensuring a donation of each sale came to Dougie Mac.

Dougie Mac £56,000 Rich-erIn one incredible year of fundraising Richard Stonier raised an incredible £56,000 for Douglas Macmillan Hospice.

From living in a box to 24 hour spins and 38 other amazing events, he showed how inspirational one person can be.Now one year on Rich is preparing himself for a fresh challenge, as part of our Kilimanjaro trek in February 2015.Oh and did we mention we will also be taking on Living in a Box part 2 during Hospice Care Week and leading up to Bring a Pound Day on Friday October 10th.Keep up to date with all of his fundraising exploits for Dougie Mac at 4mymum.co.uk

In May members of staff from Churchill embarked on a relay run with the mug from the base in Stoke on Trent to London. The relay run would take 48 hours, the rough timescale it takes to make one of the mugs, at a distance of 206 miles with 38 Churchill employees taking part.By the end of the year, Churchill China raised over £48,000!

Churchill’s Challenge Raises £48,000To celebrate our 40th Anniversary Churchill China decided to take on the massive challenge to raise £40,000 for the Hospice with a series of fundraisers.


ROYAL VISIT 2014 Wednesday 14th May will live long in the memory for members of staff, volunteers and patients who were present to see the visit of HRH the Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO to Douglas Macmillan Hospice.

The visit was in recognition of celebrating 40 years of caring for people in North Staffordshire.During the visit, His Royal Highness met local Civic Dignitaries, Hospice Trustees, and Senior Management of the Hospice, staff and volunteers representing every department within the Hospice.

A Right Royal Treat

During the hour he was here, the Duke visited the In Patient Unit, the Community Lodges and the Day Therapy Unit, meeting staff, volunteers, patients and their families. As a token of our appreciation of the visit, Jenny Jacklin, a Day Therapy Unit patient, presented the Duke with a picture which had been painted by patients from the Day Therapy Unit. Michelle Roberts, Chief Executive said;“We were delighted and honoured to have received a Royal Visit. The day went off very well and it was a fitting reward to all those members of staff and volunteers who have worked at the Hospice over the 40 years we have been caring for people in North Staffordshire. We were able to show the Duke the facilities and expertise we have here today to care for people facing a life limiting illness.


You make the difference.....

Held at Keele Hall on Friday 4th October the event raised a record breaking £70,000. Almost 400 guests enjoyed a five-course meal and took part in many fundraising activities during the course of the evening. Entertainment was provided by local star Jonathon Wilkes, and the event was compered by Martin Tideswell, the Deputy Editor of The Sentinel. After the success of the Ruby Ball we look forward to the 10th Anniversary ‘Enchantment Ball’ on Friday 3rd October.

As part of the 40th Anniversary Celebrations, the Hospice celebrated 40 years of caring with local supporters and businesses at the Ruby Ball.

Ruby Ball

2013 was truly an amazing 40th Anniversary year for the Hospice, from record breaking fundraisers to new shop openings and the start

Staff and students from Newcastle College dedicated their Christmas Jumper Day to the Hospice raising over £400, since then they have selected the Hospice as their 2014 Charity of the Year and have already doubled this total

of construction of our new Day Therapy Unit you all truly made it a year to remember. Whichever way you chose to support the Hospice, it’s

because of you that we look forward to the next 40 years of providing care in your local community.

Thanks to the support of the local community, the three

raffles which took place during the 40th anniversary year

raised over £200,000

Wrights Pies kindly donated ruby cupcakes to all staff and volunteers to celebrate the 40th Anniversary

2013 was truly a record breaking year for the London Marathon Runners with 15 supporters coming together to raise over £27,000!

Pictured are just a few of the highlights from the past year


Hanley Savers Hit 200 MarkWe were delighted to hear recently that the Dougie Mac Saver which was piloted by Hanley Economic Building Society has now been taken up by 200 customers.

In 2013 Hanley Economic invited customers to open an Instant Savings Account for which the Building Society would make a donation equivalent to 1% of the average yearly balance of each account opened to the Hospice. Liz Clarke our Head of Fundraising was delighted to hear the news, saying,

“We would like to thank Hanley Economic Building Society and all of the 200 customers who have opened the Instant Savings Account since last year.“It’s an amazing achievement and one that ourselves and Hanley Economic Building Society are very proud of.”David Lownds, Hanley Economics Head of Operations echoed these sentiments adding,“I am delighted with the number of Hanley savers that have opened a Douglas Macmillan Hospice saver. There is a real synergy between the Hanley and the Hospice and this has been evidenced by savers who really like the idea of having a safe place to save whilst being able to support such a worthwhile local cause.”

If you wish to open a Instant Savings Account and help raise funds for the Hospice, please pop into any of the Hanley Economic branches within the area, find your local branch at www.thehanley.co.uk.

Listers Trade Frames join in the Bring a Pound Celebrations raising over £2,300 with their 'Minion

Themed' fundraising week. 40th Anniversary Celebrations continued at

Dance with Dougie

The Hospice opened it’s gardens which took on a 40th Anniversary theme during 2013 Clare and Meg, part of the Hospice nursing team who took part in the 2013 MINI Moonlight Walk


Since then loombands have been in the press right across the world, with little girls and their parents even going as far making dresses of them!Hannah unfortunately was too young to do this year’s MINI Moonlight Walk but wanted to find a way to support the Hospice; and set upon her mission to make loombands to sell at the event. Hannah was delighted to help the Hospice and raise much needed funds, she said,“I just want to help people, we sold the loombands for £1 each with all the money going to the Hospice to spend on whatever it needs.”Through the MINI Moonlight Walk Facebook page she met Gemma Poole who was also making loombands, and together they created over 1000 ready for the

When you decide to take on a challenging fundraiser it can be for many reasons.For Mary Joynson it was climbing back on her bike, after being knocked off by a car in 2012; and cycling from Lands End to John O’Groats! She was joined by friend Denise Hurst, and after clocking up 1,100 miles in just 17 days they have raised more than £800 in sponsorship for Douglas Macmillan Hospice.Mary had no hesitation getting back on her bike when Denise mentioned about the possibility of taking on the legendary trail.“I was knocked off my bike by a careless motorist and was left with several broken bones and a broken neck; but this didn’t put me off.“The first thing I did once I got my neck collar off was get back on my bike.”Fundraisers such as Mary and Denise are a true inspiration to all of us, and the Hospice has taken a leaf out of their book and organised a very special challenge for 2015.

Mary & Denise Would Ride 1000 Miles for Dougie Mac

Next February a team of 10 supporters will trek up the iconic Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa to raise funds. Places are filling up fast so if you would like to be part of Team Dougie Mac please email [email protected]

event on Saturday 12th July.They proved a big hit with MINI Moonlighters and sold hundreds on the night to the 1400 ladies who made it the biggest Moonlight Walk the Hospice has ever organised.

Loom-ing FantasticWorking alongside recommended challenge providers we have a full range of challenges to suit you, so take on a once in a life time experience and support your local Hospice.Meet Claire and Paul who raised over £500 from a sponsored skydive earlier this year: “We both loved the experience and it made it all the better knowing that we were supporting a local charity too. I would have gone up and done it again straight after, in fact, I'd do it again now if given the opportunity!”

Interested to hear more? Get in touch with the fundraisers by emailing [email protected] or call 01782 344304.

When Hannah Goring and Gemma Poole teamed up to make loombands for our MINI Moonlight Walk; little did they know they would be onto the next big thing.

Supporters who returned their old home collecting tins or picked up a new one on the day got a free bag of scrumptious Walker’s toffee.Dougie Banks are just one way that small change makes a big difference to the services we provide at Douglas Macmillan Hospice.Last year alone £34,000 was generated from Dougie Banks. Picking up your Dougie Bank couldn’t be easier; you can get one from one of our 19 shops across North Staffordshire or pop into our Main Reception here at the Hospice and get yours.

Small Change Big DifferenceIn July we launched our brand new Dougie Banks at our Newcastle shop.

From skydives to international cycles, we have a challenge to suit everyone.


September Woofs & Wellies Sunday 7th September Here’s a fundraiser for your furry friend; as our second annual Woofs & Wellies takes place at Park Hall Country Park.There’s a brisk 2.5 mile walk or a shorter route available for little legs and little paws. So get your pooch sponsored and come along for a great morning for all the family.

OctoberThe Enchantment BallFriday 3rd OctoberIn its 10th year our Annual Ball becomes The Enchantment Ball, so join us for a night of wonder and entertainment.Set in the luscious grounds of Keele Hall, businesses and individuals come together for a night to remember.Very limited number of tables left.To register your interest please visit www.dougiemacevents.co.uk.

Bring a Pound DayFriday 10th OctoberBe a Hero this October and join in with North Staffordshire biggest fundraising day; Bring a Pound Day.Whether you’re in education, work for a business, are part of a group or just want to do something yourself there’s plenty of ways to support Dougie Mac on this very special day.Tell us what you’re doing at www.dougiemacevents.co.uk & shout about it at Facebook.com/bringapoundIn association with The Sentinel & Signal Radio.

Events Calendar 2014/2015NovemberKeele Christmas MarketSunday 23rd November Come along to the glorious grounds of Keele Hall and pick up a seasonal gift or two at Keele Christmas Market.Remember 50% of your entrance fee comes straight to Douglas Macmillan Hospice.For more information please visit www.keele-conference.com

Man Up Month November 2014Join Britain’s strongest man Eddie Hall and do something manly for money for Man Up Month!You can take part in ‘Man Up and Dare to Bare’ with BCaptured Studios, take on a challenging event or why not organise your own Man vs. Food challenge?

December Light up a Life Sunday 7th December Remember a loved one by donating a light on our Christmas tree, and coming along to our Annual remembrance service at Longton Methodist Church.

Light up a Life in the CommunitySunday 14th December Bringing our entire community together we will be holding our second Annual Light up a Life in the Community event at the Britannia Stadium. Come along and join in with children from choirs right across the region performing some festive favourites.

April Family 5K Walk & Fun RunSunday 12th April 2015Join us at the Wedgwood Estate for our Annual Family 5K which will include a walk, a fun run and a 5K for runners.

MayWill MonthMay will once again become Will Month where Solicitors from right across the region will support Douglas Macmillan Hospice and provide a basic Will in return for a donation or a legacy to the Hospice.

Dougie Mac Bike RideSunday 17th May 2015Following our record-breaking ride in 2014, join us again at the Michelin Athletic Centre and choose from the 3 popular routes and smash your personal best.

Annual Golf DayFriday 22nd May 2015Bring your team of 4 along to Trentham Golf Club and help us drive donations.

For more information or to register for any of our events, please contact us on

Web: www.dougiemacevents.co.uk Tel: 01782 344304 Email: [email protected]


The construction on our new state of the art Day Therapy Unit is set to be completed in the coming weeks, and we recently sat down with Maintenance Manager Paul Munyard who told us about the latest developments.

“The new Day Therapy Unit will provide a greater range of services than the current unit, including a range of therapy services on the ground floor and bereavement and psychological services on the first floor,” Paul commented.With over 2,500 patients cared for last year there is a clear need for an expansion of the current services, and new facility will ensure we’re able to meet all the needs of our patients.DMH Chairman Ted Turner spoke of his delight on the new Day Therapy Unit, saying,“We are absolutely delighted to soon be opening our new Day Therapy Unit , which will help us to better support people from across North Staffordshire and surrounding villages with life-limiting terminal

The award winning project was set up by Dr Ian Greaves a GP at Gnosall Surgery and Clinical Director of GP First. The Care Facilitators provide support to patients, families and carers visiting them at home to carry out a holistic assessment of their needs. The CF not only arranges attendance at a memory clinic, held in their local GP’s surgeries, but also accompanies them providing a familiar face and valuable background information for the memory clinic Consultant. The CF then maintains contact providing valuable information about services available and supporting both the patient and

Laying the Foundations for the Next 40 Years

illness, as well as their friends and families. “These new facilities will allow us to offer an expanded service; enabling us to reach out more to people in the community,” he said.On completion it will provide new outpatient, rehabilitation, day therapeutics and psychological therapy units.Keep up with the latest news on the Day Therapy Unit on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/dmhospice

Memory First

carer with any issues or concerns they may have. Michelle Roberts Chief Executive of Douglas Macmillan Hospice said: “We were delighted to be able to lend our support to this innovative programme of care. Although the Care Facilitators are funded by the NHS, we were able to use our expertise to identify and recruit the very best people for the job.“Two teams of Facilitators, managed by ourselves and St Giles Hospice in Lichfield, will champion patients, their families and their carers and work to ensure they get the support they need at such a difficult time.”

In December last year we were delighted to announce a partnership with St Giles Hospice for the Award-winning Memory First project which will redefine care for dementia patients.

After the recent success of Carers Week in June, we have launched a new campaign to get carers in the community to share their stories; to help shape our future practices.

Jeanette McCartney, Director of Clinical Services Development is leading the project at the Hospice and is looking forward to hearing from people right across the North Staffordshire region. “We know that caring for a loved one with a life-limiting illness can be a stressful time. At Douglas Macmillan Hospice, we meet these wonderful carers every day, and believe that they deserve a voice. We want to find out how we can make things better,” she said. “Time is precious but we need people to come forward, so we can understand more about their experiences and provide for their needs in the future.”The project is being funded by Staffordshire County Council and is being carried out by Douglas Macmillan Hospice in collaboration with St. Giles Hospice in Lichfield. Anyone who would like to share their experience of caring for a relative or friend with Douglas Macmillan Hospice is asked to call Jeanette on 01782 344300, or email [email protected] .

Caring for the Future


“I just wanted to say thank you. My mum was only at the Dougie Mac for 4 days but the level of care she received during that time was amazing. The whole team were so caring towards us and extremely empathetic to the situation we found ourselves in. My mum was so well looked after and she loved the food! It was lovely to see her enjoying a meal whilst clearly in so much pain. When we got the phone call to say she only had a few hours left, the team were so respectful and things like a hug were just given. As I say I was so overwhelmed by

the level of care you provide that I had to donate each month, so that other people who find their selves in the worst situation can have the best care in those precious weeks”. Could you Give a Gift to your local Hospice? Choose a gift to suit you and complete the donation form of the back page of this magazine. As soon as you’re set up we’ll send you a personalised certificate recognising your gift to the Hospice, and a commemorative coin on the first, fifth and tenth anniversary of your gift.

Meet Rebecca...who gives £10 a month to your local Hospice

Anytime An anytime gift of £3 a month will contribute to the daily running costs of the Hospice and will ensure that no patient is ever charged for the care they receive at the Hospice

Relaxation Time By donating just £4.20 a month you could donate the cost of a patient therapy session at the Day Therapy Unit. This enables people to get out of the house regularly, meet with other people who may be facing similar challenge and have a little bit of relaxation time.

Daytime Our Day Therapy Unit enables people to meet with other people who may be facing similar challenges and have their condition regularly monitored by trained nurses. By donating £47.60 a month, you could run the entire unit for a whole day by the end of the year.

Support Time There are over 20 Dougie Mac nurses who provide advice and support in your local community. For just £10 a month, you could support a patient’s choice to be cared for in their own home and donate the cost of an hour of community care.

My Time Could you spare a minute? By donating just £20 a month you could help keep the Hospice and all its services free of charge to people across North Staffordshire. Could you donate one minute of your time each month?

Give a GiftYour Gift could make the difference

By choosing to Give a Gift, you could be providing help and support to family or friends, someone you work with, your local pub landlord or someone you pass in the street. You could be helping a child cope with losing a family member.A regular gift enables us to plan for the future, continuing to provide and improve our services in your local area, safe in the knowledge that we have a regular monthly income that we can rely upon.You can make a personal difference by giving just £5 a month. That’s just 16p a day.

Mealtime By donating just £5 a month you could provide a patient’s meals for a day.

To Give a Gift today, please complete the donation form on the back page of this Dougie Mag


This September we’re launching a very special campaign encouraging volunteers to bring a friend along to their current role at the Hospice.

Here they will see the wonderful work they do and hopefully be inspired to do some volunteering for Dougie Mac in the future.We will also have late night shopping opportunities on Thursday 18th September at our Hanford, Meir shops and Burslem Warehouse where a Hospice Ambassador will be on hand to talk through opportunities available.On Sunday 12th October we will also be hosting a picnic banquet at the Upper House, Barlaston where volunteers are encouraged again to bring a friend along to see what inspires them to support their local Hospice.

Whatever you can do . . . do it for Dougie Mac

Whatever John did, he did for usDo you remember the familiar sight of the tin can man collecting for Douglas Macmillan Hospice – John did whatever he could do and collecting was what he could do. We need you to do whatever you can do, it takes one phone call to start doing!

Talk to us today 01782 344 332 or email [email protected]


We would like to say a huge thank you to all of our solicitors who supported Make a Will Month in May.

Forty solicitors agreed to support the campaign which offered interested parties a basic will consultation in return for a donation to the Hospice.Making a Will is one of life’s tasks that always gets put on the backburner, but Make a Will Month is the perfect opportunity to sort out something that will benefit you later on whilst remembering a local charity.

Judith Bell, Legacy Manager at the Hospice has been delighted with this year’s response, saying,“We really appreciate the time given by our supporting solicitors, as without them we wouldn’t have been able to offer this promotion.”“We’re also grateful to all of those who have contacted us and used the opportunity to make or update their will.”

If you would like to know more about leaving a gift in your Will for Douglas Macmillan Hospice, please contact Judith Bell on 01782 344308 or e-mail [email protected].

Upon receiving the lucky news, Amanda was truly shocked that she had won £2,000. She said,“The win has come at the right time and I can’t wait to spend the winnings on my family.”The 33 year old from Leek plays the weekly Lottery with over 22,000 other local people as a way of supporting the Hospice.“Being part of the Lottery is my way of giving something back to this wonderful local charity that helps so many people in our community,” Amanda added.

Solicitors Willing to Help

Amanda’s Got the Gould-en Ticket!

If you want to become a winner like Amanda, join the Dougie Mac Lottery today by visiting our website at www.dmhospice.org.uk or call a member of the lottery team on 01782 344321.

It was part of his quest to raise £40,000 for the Hospice after they cared for his mother in 2012; but the challenge also took place during Hospice Care Week. The culmination of the week being the Hospice’s signature campaign Bring a Pound Day.Throughout this week Rich and friend Carl Heaton took on various challenges including spinning, extreme fitness classes and having reptiles including lizards and snakes in the box with them; raising an amazing £8,000 during the week with the help of ASDA Tunstall.This year Rich is stepping back for ‘Return of Living in a Box’, but he will start the challenge on Friday 3rd October and finish again on Bring a Pound Day on Friday 10th October.“Last year’s challenge was very tough but so rewarding; so I am really looking forward to getting back in the box for a bit longer this time.”Look out for all the latest news about Bring a Pound Day on www.facebook.com/bringapound and get involved at www.dougiemacevents.co.uk

Rich’s Back in the BoxLast October one of our supporters Richard Stonier took on a mammoth challenge living in a box for an entire week at ASDA Tunstall.

When mother-of-two Amanda Gould heard she had scooped the top prize in the Dougie Mac Lottery earlier this year she could hardly believe it.

Instruction to your bank or building society to pay by Direct Debit

Banks and building societies may not accept Direct Debit Instructions for some types of account.

This Guarantee should be detached and retained by the payer.

The Direct Debit Guarantee This Guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay Direct Debits If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit Douglas Macmillan Hospice will notify you 10 working days in advance of your

account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you request Douglas Macmillan Hospice to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request

If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit, by Douglas Macmillan Hospice or your bank or building society you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society – If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when Douglas Macmillan Hospice asks you to

You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society. Written confirmation may be required. Please also notify us.

Please fill in the whole form using a ball point pen and send to: Douglas Macmillan Hospice, Barlaston Road, Blurton, Stoke on Trent, ST3 3NZ Name and full postal address of your bank or building society

To: The Manager Bank/building society

Address

Postcode

Name(s) of account holder(s)

Bank/building society account number

Branch sort code

Service user number

2 9 3 7 7 6

Reference

FOR DOUGLAS MACMILLAN HOSPICE OFFICIAL USE ONLY This is not part of the instruction to your bank or building society.

Instruction to your bank or building society Please pay Douglas Macmillan Hospice Direct Debits from the account detailed in this Instruction subject to the safeguards assured by the Direct Debit Guarantee. I understand that this Instruction may remain with Douglas Macmillan Hospice and, if so, details will be passed electronically to my bank/building society.

Signature(s)

Date

DDI7

Complete this form to make a donationPlease return this form to: Douglas Macmillan Hospice, Barlaston Road, Blurton, Stoke-on-Trent, ST3 3NZ

Alternatively you can make a one off donation by writing your name and address on the reverse of a cheque and make payable to ‘Douglas Macmillan Hospice’ or donate online at www.dmhospice.org.ukPayment Section

Your Details

£Your Donation

I would like to Give a Gift of

Office Only: Date Rec’d ................... Amount ........................ MOP ............................Initials .......................... Source .......................

Title:

First Name:

Daytime Tel:

Home Address:

Reference

Last Name:

Email:

Post Code:Your personal data will be used to process payments/donations and communicate with you. We will only share your details within the hospice and our trading companies. We may contact you from time to time with hospice news and information. If you do not want to hear from us in the future please telephone or email [email protected]

(Please tick the box) No, I am not a UK Tax Payer*/ eligible for Gift Aid

Date (DD/MM/YYYY):* You must have paid an amount of income or capital gains tax (VAT and council tax do not qualify) at least equal to the tax that all charities and CASCs that you donate to will reclaim on your donations in the appropriate tax year.

Please notify us if you want to cancel this declaration, change your name/home address or no longer pay sufficient income and/or capital gains tax.

(Please tick the box) Yes, I am a UK tax payer* and would like Douglas Macmillan Hospice to treat this donation, all donations I have made for the 4 years prior to this donation and all donations I make in the future as Gift Aid, until I notify you otherwise.

monthly/quarterly/annually** please delete as applicable

Gift Aid Declaration

Documents

Dougie Mag autumn 2014