On 1st February 2012 the Chairman of the Trustees of the Daughters of the Cross issued a Statement which was sent to all staff employed by the hospital and the hospice, plus supporters, volunteers and consultants. It was accompanied by a personalised letter to each member of staff from Brian Clarke, Hospital Director and Hospice Manager.

These are attached as PDF files. Please click the link to open.

STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN OF TRUSTEES
Sister Veronica Hagen

LETTER TO STAFF FROM HOSPICE MANAGER/HOSPITAL DIRECTOR
Brian Clarke

Dr Ron McKeran has been appointed Chairman of St Raphael's Hospice's Board, replacing Mr Roy Putt, who has retired as Chairman after serving in that capacity for nearly 10 years. Dr McKeran said "I am pleased to be joining the Hospice's board particularly in its 25th anniversary year. I want to support its dedicated staff and all those who give so generously of their time as volunteers and in fundraising to maintain this vital community service.

Dr McKeran, now retired, was a Consultant Neurologist and remains a member of the Medical Advisory Committee of St Anthony's Hospital, the sister organisation of St Raphael's Hospice.

For over 30 years, he was Consultant Neurologist at Atkinson Morley's, St George's and St Helier's Hospitals with an honorary Senior Lectureship to St George's Hospital Medical School and an honorary consultant to the Royal Marsden Hospital Sutton.

He has been a member of the Wandsworth Health Authority becoming Vice Chairman during a period of rapid change in NHS organisation; Chairman of the St Helier Hospital CT Scanner Appeal; Chairman of the St George's Health Care Trust Neurosciences Centre and member of the Executive Board; Co-Founder and Trustee of the Atkinson Morley's Neurosciences Research Foundation; medical advisor to the Health Committee of the General Medical Council and a member of the Medical Appeals Tribunals.

Outside medicine, he has for many years enjoyed walking the fells and mountains throughout Europe but particularly the English Lakes and on occasions in sponsored climbs for charity. More recently he has enjoyed holidays with family and friends navigating the canals of England and France in longboats and has gone back to fly-fishing the rivers and lakes of England an interest he first developed many years ago whilst working with the fishermen and Eskimos in Newfoundland and Labrador. Dr McKeran is married to Penny and they have four grown up sons.

END

St Raphael's Hospice in North Cheam was able to play "Santa" to two lucky winners in last weeks pre-Christmas Hospice Lottery Draw.

The pre-Christmas draw paid out £3,000 to Derek and Anne Tucker and £4,600 rollover prize to Mr Reg Brosnan, both of whom live in Sutton.

Both are supporters of the hospice because they had relatives who were cared for by St Raphael's and joined the hospice lottery to continue to support the work of the hospice, but were delighted when Keith Witham, Director of Fundraising rang to say they had won a prize in the Christmas Draw.

They are each pictured with Mr Witham, who gave their cheques to the lucky winners personally. For more information about joining the St Raphael's weekly lottery see the application form on this website or call 020 8335 4576. It's only £1 per week per entry and each week one lucky winner receives £1,000, other than for special draws when the prizes are increased.

There is also a "rollover" prize which if not won can accumulate up to £10,000.

St Raphael's Hospice is one of the causes benefiting from ITV's major new charity appeal for Christmas, Text Santa. Money raised by Text Santa will help hospices like St Raphael's Hospice to make a difference to the lives of seriously ill people and their families during the festive period and beyond. One of the six nominated charities to benefit from the appeal is "Help the Hospices" representing more than 200 hospices across the UK.

Text Santa will culminate in two entertainment spectaculars featuring major names from television, music and show business on ITV1 - the first kicked off on 11 December, with the finale taking place on Christmas Eve. Ant and Dec, Phillip Schofield, Christine Bleakley and Holly Willoughby will host the fun-filled festive shows and will also be joined by other ITV household names. The events will also feature some of the most loved names from television, music and show business and look set to deliver plenty of laughs and fun from some of the best faces on the box.

Keith Witham, director of fundraising, St Raphael's Hospice, said: "We are thrilled to be involved in this exciting new charity initiative. Every year we have to raise around £3 million so that we can continue to provide hospice care and support to 900 families throughout the Boroughs of Merton and Sutton."

Maxine Trotter, director of fundraising at Help the Hospices said: "Every year our member hospices collectively provide more than 26 million hours of care, the majority in people's own homes, helping seriously ill people and their families to live well until they die. We are hugely grateful to ITV and its partners and look forward to raising awareness and valuable funds for hospice care."

Peter Fincham, ITV Director of Television added: "This is a superb opportunity for us to throw the weight of the UK's biggest commercial broadcaster behind a brand new charity initiative and event. Text Santa will be a fantastic entertainment centrepiece to the ITV1 Christmas schedule, but more importantly it will raise awareness and funds for a range of causes which can make a real difference to people's lives."

The initiative is supported by major commercial and media partners, including Asda who are supporting Text Santa in stores nationwide and Global Radio via their award-winning Heart radio network.

Viewers will be able to donate money throughout the campaign via text - as well as by landline, online or in any Santander branch. Alongside Help the Hospices, the chosen charities for Text Santa 2011 are Carers UK; Crisis; Samaritans; WRVS; and children's hospital charities - Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity; Noah's Ark Appeal, Helping Hand, and Yorkhill Children's Foundation.

St Raphael's Hospice annual 'Light Up a Life' carol service was attended by 2,500 people in the grounds of the Hospice on Sunday 4 December when the Christmas lights were turned on. The Mayor of Merton, Councillor Gilli Lewis-Lavender and the Deputy Major of Sutton, Councillor Hamish Pollock, were also in attendance.

Supporters gave donations in memory of loved ones who are remembered through the lights on the Christmas tree, which shine through Christmas and into the New Year. This year 4,000 people were remembered in this way. The lights were turned on at the carol service by Sister Clare Joseph, representing the Daughters of the Cross who started St Raphael's in 1987 and Dr Marie Joseph, Medical Director at the Hospice.

Keith Witham, Director of Fundraising, St Raphael's Hospice, said "This year's Appeal exceeded all previous years and over £140,000 was raised. We want to thank everyone for their support."

 

END

November 2011. Top comedian Arthur Smith has officially launched the St Raphael's Hospice shop in Epsom. He was appearing at Epsom Playhouse performing his one-man show and called into our shop first to do the honours. While he was at the shop, he met staff and volunteers from St Raphael's Hospice, bought a sweater, a striped scarf and signed a copy of the book "Grumpy Old Men".

The St Raphael's Hospice shop is at 73 High Street, Epsom, in a prime location, selling a wide range of clothes, bric a brac, books, children's toys, vinyl and chinaware. Open from 10am to 4pm, it can be contacted on 01372 722937.

Jan Cunningham, Shops Retail Manager, St Raphael's Hospice, says "It's fantastic that Arthur Smith was able to join us to officially open the shop." The Epsom shop is the charity's tenth retail shop.

A BBC regular, Arthur Smith is well known for his appearances on TV's 'Grumpy Old Men', 'Q.I.', 'Have I Got News For You', 'The One Show' and Radio 4's 'Loose Ends', 'Balham Bash' and Radio 2's 'Smith Lectures'. He is a 'Spirit of The Fringe' award-winning Edinburgh Festival stalwart and Olivier nominated playwright for 'An Evening With Gary Lineker'.

St Raphael's Hospice is encouraging people in the areas of Sutton and Merton to turn their backs on the new commercially run national "Health Lottery", warning that it could deprive local patients with life-limiting illnesses of the vital care services they depend upon.

St Raphael's local hospice charity is reliant on over £120,000 a year generated by its own fundraising lottery, but fears that this income could be seriously affected if people choose to play the national " Health Lottery" instead.

Keith Witham, Director of Fundraising for St Raphael's Hospice said: "Our weekly hospice lottery is an essential source of income for St Raphael's raising a significant amount of the money we need each year to provide our free specialist care services for some 900 local people a year in Sutton and Merton."

"We're extremely concerned, therefore, that this new national "Health Lottery", which is being run commercially, could divert money away from local hospice care, which is the last thing we need in this already difficult economic climate. Tickets are being sold via the major supermarkets, for which the supermarkets receive a commission payment."

"Playing the Health Lottery might sound like a good idea for those who wish to support good causes, but the fact is it will only donate 20p to charity for every £1 spent on tickets – just a fraction above the minimum amount required by law. And because it's a national initiative, players will never be sure exactly who their money will be supporting, or where, when they give to the Health Lottery."

"In contrast for every £1 received by St Raphael's Hospice Lottery 50p goes directly towards hospice care in the local area, so players can rest assured that their money is being well spent in their own community."

"With the NHS providing only 25% of the funding for St Raphael's , we depend upon public donation and fundraising, including our Lottery for 75% of what it costs to keep the hospice going. It's for this reason that we're urging local people who care about their local hospice to say "No" to the Health Lottery."

The St Raphael's 'No to the Health Lottery' campaign is being supported by Help the Hospices, the national charity for hospice care.

David Praill, Chief Executive of Help the Hospices, says: "In these already challenging times, we are very concerned that this new lottery could have a serious impact on the vital funds generated by the hospice lotteries that take place every week across the UK."

"Hospices are local charities rooted in the communities they serve, and although hospice care is free for seriously ill people and their families, it is not free to provide, and collectively hospices have to raise more than £500 million every year."

"Since the early 1990s hospice lotteries have been an important source of income for hospices across the UK and together raise nearly £50 million each year, with more than half of the money raised contributing directly to local hospice care for people with terminal and life-limiting illnesses."

People who would like to support St Raphael's Hospice Lottery can contact the co-ordinator, Glenda Withall on 020 8335 4576 for an application form or DOWNLOAD HERE. The lottery offers a weekly prize of £1,000 and a rollover prize of up to £10,000 – but as well as the chance of winning, people often say to the hospice that they like to know exactly where their money is going, and what it is achieving.
-ends-

More info: Keith Witham: 020 8335 4572

LIGHT UP A LIFE APPEAL 2011. Each year the hospice has a major appeal called Light up a Life. Supporters and friends are invited to make a donation in memory of a loved who will be remembered through the lights that shine on the Hospice Christmas Tree in December through to the New Year and at a special LUAL Carol Service. All dedication names are also recorded in a special commemorative brochure. The closing date for contributions and names ( to be in time for inclusion in the brochure) is Thursday 3rd November.

Click here for more details.

Thank you.

CHRISTMAS CARDS AND GIFTS. We have a range of cards and gifts available at all our charity shops which help raise funds for the hospice.

Click here for more details

SANTA DASH EVENTS. In December we have two Sponsored Santa Dash Events – Saturday 3rd December on Wimbledon Common. And on Saturday 10th December in Nonsuch Park, Cheam.

Ring Suzi on 020 8644 3857 for full details.

To mark St Raphael's Day on 29th September, St Raphael's Hospice hosted a fundraising dinner featuring a trio of actors who recreated "Fawlty Towers Hotel" at the St Bedes Centre, Cheam, located on the same site as the Hospice.

Over 70 friends and supporters of St Raphael's attended and the evening raised £1,500 for the charity. Also attending were Pat and Carole Jolly, the Pearlie King and Queen of Crystal Palace who gave an interesting account of the history and charity work of the Pearlie Kings and Queens.

Keith Witham, Director of Fundraising, St Raphael's Hospice, said "It was a lively evening and Basil, Sybil and Manuel made everyone laugh! We thank everyone who attended and helped us to raise much-needed funds for the Hospice."

St Raphael's Hospice is campaigning for changes to the Value Added Tax (VAT) payable by the charity by writing to the four MPs who represent the Hospice's catchment area. Although the Hospice is based in London Road, North Cheam, it treats terminally ill patients from all areas of the Boroughs of Sutton and Merton. Brian Clarke, Hospice Manager, has sent letters to the following MPs - Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington), Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam), Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon) and Siobhain McDonagh (Mitcham and Morden). In the letters, he highlights the inequality that results from irrecoverable VAT between independent Hospices such as St Raphael's and the National Health Service (NHS), as the NHS is able to recover VAT on certain supplies which Hospices are unable to do.

"In the case of St Raphael's Hospice, this amounts to over £50,000 per year," he says. "Hospices often cover this VAT gap with charitable donations so the money goes directly to the Treasury instead to Hospice care, for which the funds were donated. This shouldn't continue. Charitable donations are given with the intention of funding care, not VAT."

On average, the Hospice cares for 900 patients each year. It costs £4 million a year to provide these services and of these costs, the NHS through Sutton and Merton Primary Care Trust (PCT) provides a grant of £1 million or 25% of the total. This means that nearly £3 million (75%) has to be raised from charitable donations, fundraising and legacies.

In his letters, Mr Clarke urges the MPs to contact the Treasury to ask for a review of their policy around irrecoverable VAT for charities providing healthcare services; look to secure a debate or table a parliamentary question on the issue and to sign House of Commons Motions 1522 "Healthcare charities and VAT recovery" and 1261 "Charities and irrecoverable VAT."

"Addressing this issue of the VAT gap will enable Hospices to use public funds to do what we do best – provide care and support to those in need within the local community," says Mr Clarke. "It is projected that with the country's ageing population, demand for Hospice and palliative care will increase which will lead to an even bigger role for Hospices like St Raphael's to provide care."

Ends

St Raphael's Summer Festival of events for 2011 were attended collectively by over 2,000 people and raised £20,000 for the Hospice. The events included the summer fete, a London Thameside sponsored walk, the production of "That'll Be The Day" at the New Wimbledon Theatre and the recent Bee Gees Tribute concert at the Gardens of Nonsuch Mansions, Nonsuch Park, Cheam.

Although St Raphael's Hospice is based in North Cheam, it supports 900 patients each year from throughout the two boroughs of Merton and Sutton.

Keith Witham, Director of Fundraising, St Raphael's Hospice, said "We're thrilled that our summer events have been so well attended and raised so much money for the Hospice. The Hospice supports some 900 patients and families every year and all the services are entirely free. It costs £4 million a year to run the Hospice and £3 million a year relies on charity fundraising."

St Raphael's next big fundraising event is its 5th annual Ladies Only Midnight Memories five mile sponsored walk on Saturday 24th September to raise over £50,000 for the Hospice. For registration forms and details, e-mail susannahforland@straphaels.org.uk or phone Suzi on 020 8644 3857.

Wimbledon resident Mark Palmer has won first prize in St Raphael's Hospice's photographic competition to find pictures for a special 2012 calendar to commemorate its 25th anniversary next year.

Mark's winning entry is called "The Magic of Wimbledon Common". It will be featured in the 2012 calendar as "October". Mark won an hour's studio session and £100 off voucher donated by Snappy Snaps in Wimbledon. The competition was supported your Local Guardian as media sponsor.

A picture of the St Raphael's courtyard garden will be the "April" photograph and the ten other winners' pictures depicting Rosehill, Morden, Cheam, Carshalton and Mitcham will feature in the other months of the calendar. They each win a £10 Marks & Spencer voucher.

Keith Witham, Director of Fundraising, St Raphael's Hospice, said "The standard of entries was very high so it made judging difficult. I want to thank everyone for entering and look forward to seeing the winning pictures in our calendar which will be on sale in November to raise funds for St Raphael's Hospice. We will be celebrating our 25th anniversary in 2012."

The other winners were: Marie Chapman, Mitcham; Karen Baker, Morden (submitted two winning entries); Rebecca Long, Mitcham; Piraveen Pathmanathan, Mitcham; Lisa Faulkner, Worcester Park; Charlotte Piner, Mitcham; Abdul Roheem, Mitcham; Charles Pigott, Wimbledon; Sophronie and Gill Edwards, Morden.

St Raphael's Hospice 2012 calendars will be on sale in November @ £5 each to help raise funds for the hospice.

The Hospice has treated patients with life-threatening diseases since 1987. Although based in Cheam, Surrey, the Hospice's catchment area includes Beddington, Belmont, Carshalton, Cheam, Mitcham, Morden, North Cheam, Sutton, Raynes Park, Wallington, Wimbledon and Worcester Park.

The service is free of charge and proves medical and nursing skills as well as support to family and friends. On average, the Hospice cares for 900 patients each year. It costs £4 million a year to provide these services and of these costs, the NHS through Sutton and Merton Primary Care Trust provides a grant of £1 million or 25% of the total. This means that over £3 million (75%) has to be raised from charitable donations, fundraising and legacies. For more information and to make donations, please visit www.straphaels.co.uk

END

A special performance of "That'll Be The Day", a touring show featuring music from the 50's, 60's and 70's was held at New Wimbledon Theatre on Saturday 18th June to raise funds for St Raphael's Hospice, including tributes to Cliff Richard, Elvis Presley, The Beatles,  The Rolling Stones and The Blues Brothers; there were  also comedy routines throughout the two and a half hour show.

There were  some 900 people in the audience, including  the Mayor of Merton, Councillor Gilli Lewis-Lavender and the Mayor's Consort Mr Brian Lewis-Lavender,  who are pictured with members of the cast.  Also supporting the evening were sponsors  The Peter Beckwith Charitable Trust,  Robert Holmes Estate Agents,  The Wimbledon Village Business Association and Merton Arts. Over £5,000 was raised for the hospice.

A NEW look to the gardens at St Raphael's Hospice is now on proud display after a team of volunteers from Natwest Private Banking in South London, gave up a day recently

The work has been carried out with a £1,190 donation from Natwest which paid for £490 of shrubs and garden tools, with the balance donated to the Hospice.

The work was carried out by the Natwest volunteers , and Dave and Steve from Cutting Edge who also kindly gave up their time and travelled up from Worthing. They planted up shrubs and perennials supplied by Woodcote Green Nursery, Wallington and tidied up both court yards. Woodcote Green Nursery also donated £100.

Paul Joyce, Area Manager got together a 14 strong team from Natwest and the working party was organised by Gill Nunn the Hospice Volunteer services co-ordinator, and Sheelagh McCarthy, Corporate Fundraiser.

Paul said: "We're here to support the local community. St Raphael's Hospice is the charity the South London Private area is supporting this year, and we were keen to lend a hand and get involved in such a worthy cause.

Gill Nunn said: "We are grateful to NatWest for working so hard to help transform the gardens, which are so important to the care of our patients and their families. We could not complete a project such as this without the help of volunteers." The Natwest volunteers were able to complete 3 areas, the Daycare Patio, Main Courtyard Patio and the side garden. The Hospice is now hoping more people will come forward and donate their time to look at other areas that are in need of a freshen up.

St Raphael's Hospice serves the two boroughs of Sutton and Merton, and has to raise £11,000 every day to run the 14-bedded unit, which provides respite care and support for patients and families at the hospice in North Cheam, and in people's own homes through teams of community hospice nurses, plus a day care centre. For further information visit: www.straphaels.org.uk

• For further info contact:
• Sheelagh McCarthy: Corporate Fundraiser
• St. Raphael's Hospice, London Road, North Cheam, Sutton, SM3 9DX
• Tel: 020 8644 3857 (direct line), 020 8335 4576 (main office), 07748147291 (mobile)
• Fax: 020 8335 4573
• email: sheelaghmccarthy@straphaels.org.uk

• This item appeared in the Sutton and Wimbledon Guardian newspapers 17th June 2011. If you, or anyone you know, is an amateur photographer, do please pass this on to them.
• 
  
  Entries to: fundraising@straphaels.org.uk
• With a short explanation of what/where the image is, plus name, address & telephone details
• Closing date: 1st July
  
  The winning entries will be turned into a 2012 calendar, as next year will be the hospice's 25th Anniversary

Joe Ryan from Carshalton, Surrey has completed a 300 mile cycle trip across Zambia to raise much needed funds for St Raphael's Hospice. His epic journey took 7 days starting from Lusaka, Zambia and finishing 300 gruelling miles later in Livingstone, with temperatures reaching 95 degrees daily.

Joe has completed various fundraising activities for St Raphael's Hospice and joined the Hospice Board in 2010. He is aiming to raise £5,000 for St Raphael's.

St Raphael's Hospice needs over £4m a year to continue to provide free of charge care to over 900 patients each year, of which only £1m is provided by the NHS, even though the hospice receives 100% of it's patients from the NHS.

]St Raphael's Hospice Community Fundraiser, Louisa Hitchen, said "It's fantastic that Joe took this challenge on, but we are always in need of more people to do similar things to raise funds for the hospice. We offer a wide range of activities that people can get involved in, and for more information it would be lovely to hear from you"

To make a donation and sponsor Joe in his epic journey go online to
www.virginmoneygiving.com/team/straphaelshospice

Or to contact Louisa Hitchen, Community Fundraising ring 020 8644 3857
or email louisahitchen@straphaels.org.uk

END
June 2011