A mountaineering nurse will be accompanied by an end-of-life care charity's chief executive on her latest trek.
Isabel Hospice would be nothing without the people who believe in the life-changing difference its work can make to the lives of those who need its specialist care and support.
Whether it’s jumping out of planes, running marathons, donating or buying from its charity shops, or supporting the organisation through volunteering, the Hospice is eternally grateful for all the big and small ways its supporters make its caring work possible.
Which is why those who share its passion for providing the best possible palliative and end-of-life care to the people who rely on the Hospice and the free services its provides, will be front and centre of mind when Janice Penman sets out to conquer her fifth mountain of 2023 - this time accompanied by Isabel CEO Helen Glenister.
On Sunday, May 28, the duo will be hiking to the top of Glyder Fawr - at just over 1,000m the highest mountain in the Glyderau range in the Snowdonia National Park - as part of Janice’s challenge to climb 12 mountains in 12 months to mark 20 years of working at Isabel Hospice.
Janice, one of Isabel’s Clinical Nurse Specialists, said: “For all the mountains that I climb, I like to celebrate or remember someone or something.
"For this mountain, Helen and I will be thinking about our community, the people of eastern Hertfordshire who support our charity by raising much-need funds, donating goods to sell in our charity shops, gifting money, perhaps through a legacy, or giving their precious time as volunteers.
"The Hospice could not function without its many supporters, and for this we are truly thankful.”
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Helen, also a nurse, has been CEO since March 2020 having initially joined the charity as a volunteer trustee.
Before becoming CEO, she served as vice chair of the Board of Trustees.
She said: “I am looking forward to joining Janice for this adventure, helping to raise money as well as awareness of the support that is available to those who have been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness, and their loved ones.
“During 2022/23, Isabel Hospice supported 1,443 patients and 451 family members. The majority of patients (89%) were supported in the community by our Living Well with Isabel day services in Bishop’s Stortford, Waltham Cross and Welwyn Garden City, our Hospice at Home team, Clinical Nurse Specialists and Paramedic Specialists, Compassionate Communities programme and Family Support team.
“Many people think most people are cared for in our In-Patient Unit, and just for the last few days of life. However, just 162 of those 1,443 patients (11%) were cared for in our IPU.
"As the data shows, this is not the case and in fact many patients are in our services for several years.
“We are happy to take referrals from patients, their families and friends, as well as health professionals.
"We want to support as many people as we can to live life as well as possible when they have a condition that cannot be cured.”
You can help Isabel Hospice continue being by the side of those who are facing one of life’s toughest journeys, by donating to Janice’s fundraising page at https://www.justgiving.com/page/janice-penman-2023
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