East Cheshire Hospice is appealing to the community to help people with life-limiting illnesses have more good days, as part of its More Good Days campaign. The initiative, led by Sian Henderson, manager of the Sunflower Living Well Centre, aims to raise funds to sustain essential services that support patients, families, and carers.
Campaign reaches out to 6,000 households
The charity has sent a letter to 6,000 households and shared the appeal on social media, accompanied by a leaflet that highlights the experiences of Linda Picken-Broom and Jean Marshall, whose late husbands, Alan and David, benefited from the centre's care. Their stories illustrate how the Sunflower Centre helps people live well with a life-limiting illness, improving quality of life and providing comfort in a person's final year.
Staff at the Sunflower Living Well Centre, including Lynn Gillibrand, Clare Purcell, Amanda Forsyth, Loretta Eason, and Sarah Angel, are backing the campaign. Proceeds from the appeal could help maintain these vital services, which are not funded by the NHS.
The impact of the Sunflower Centre
Sian Henderson explained the profound effect a diagnosis can have on individuals and their families. "When someone is told they have a life-limiting illness, it can feel like everything changes overnight," she said. "The future may suddenly feel uncertain, confidence may disappear and everyday life may become overwhelming and harder to navigate."
However, she emphasised that the Sunflower Centre offers a lifeline. "At the Sunflower Centre, something special happens. People can begin to have more good days again. It is where patients, their families and carers, find the support they need to live well after diagnosis. From therapies to enhance wellbeing, to practical advice and emotional support, the centre helps people to rebuild confidence and find a safety net they may not know they needed."
Personal stories highlight the need
Jean Marshall, who attended the Hospice's Share, Talk and Reflect (STAR) group with Linda, spoke of the centre's importance. "I can't begin to think how life would've been without the Sunflower Centre," she said. Both women are at the same stage of grief and have found solace in the group, which provides a space for reflection and mutual support.
The Sunflower Centre receives no NHS funding, making community donations crucial. The More Good Days campaign seeks to raise funds to ensure that these services continue to be available to those who need them.
How to support the campaign
Supporters can donate by visiting the East Cheshire Hospice website at www.eastcheshirehospice.org.uk/more-good-days. The charity hopes that the campaign will resonate with the local community and encourage generosity to help more people experience better days despite their diagnoses.
The appeal comes at a time when hospice services across the UK face funding challenges, and the East Cheshire Hospice is no exception. By highlighting the real-life impact of its work, the charity aims to inspire donations that will make a tangible difference in the lives of patients and their families.
