(Monday, 27 May 2024)
Hospice Awareness Week, held from 13 to 19 May, aims to raise awareness about the value of hospice care.
Launched annually by Hospice New Zealand, Hospices around the country conduct numerous activities within their regions centered around fundraising and enhancing awareness about their palliative care services. For Marlborough various fundraising and awareness activities were held, including a sold-out Mother’s Day High Tea, a Movie Night Fundraiser, and the annual Guthrie Bowron Blenheim Upcycling Workshop.
The very first Hospice Marlborough Open Day was also held on Thursday 16 May, inviting the community to the Hospice Hub to visit the facility, meet some of the dedicated team, to grab lunch thanks to the Rapid Relief Team, and to learn first-hand about the vital care services provided to those in need. Information on the types of volunteer roles available at Hospice Marlborough was also available with opportunity to discuss how volunteering can make a difference to not only our organisation and our community, but to the lives of those that offer their services.
Several Bucket Appeals ran in multiple locations and the Hospice Pamper Hamper raffle, won by Lesley Corbett, also contributed to the cause.
Wayne Naylor, Hospice New Zealand Chief Executive, highlighted during the nationwide Hospice Awareness campaign, the ongoing misconceptions about hospice care, emphasising importance of early palliative care, which many people miss out on due to access issues.
“Around a third of the people who die in New Zealand receive hospice care, but many people continue to miss out on the palliative care hospices provide” says Mr Naylor. “Last year around 90% of people who died (34,000) had a foreseeable death from a known illness where palliative care could have been of benefit. They miss out because of access issues caused by funding and workforce challenges that mean hospices are unable to reach everyone in need, as well as the fear and misunderstanding of what hospice care is and who can benefit.”
Helen Reriti, Hospice Marlborough Clinical Services Manager, noted that hospice care is not just for end-of-life but also focuses on symptom management and enhancing quality of life.
“Many people do associate hospice with end-of-life care exclusively, which can create fear or reluctance to engage with hospice services until the very last moments of life. One of our key aspects is around symptom management and enhancing quality of life” says Mrs Reriti, “It’s not about prolonging life but about ensuring comfort and dignity during the final stages of life. Encouraging discussions about hospice earlier can help dispel misconceptions and fears, and this can lead to more informed decision-making and ultimately improve quality end-of-life for everyone involved”
Expressing hope that the campaign would encourage more community support through donations, volunteering, and participating in fundraising events, Carole Crawford, Chief Executive of Hospice Marlborough also highlighted that despite receiving over 50% of its funding from Te Whatu Ora, Hospice Marlborough relies on community contributions to cover an annual funding gap of $850,000.
“We certainly couldn’t continue to deliver the care we do, without our community and we are incredibly appreciative of their support.” Mrs Crawford adds.
Hospice Marlborough was thrilled a total net income of $6,877 was raised over Hospice Awareness Week this year as a result of the success of all events, thanks to the generosity of our community. It was also wonderful to have local MP Stuart Smith and Mayor Nadine Taylor join in on the Open Day gathering, offering their support and talking with members of the Hospice Marlborough team and the wider community.
“With each donation dropped into our buckets and support given at our events, we’re not just collecting coins; we’re gathering compassion, generosity, and the collective will, to make a difference in the lives of others facing a life-limiting illness” says Leigh Somerville, Events & Engagement Lead. “Whether you can spare a little or a lot, your generosity is appreciated. Together, we can achieve more for our community, enabling our dedicated team to continue providing our palliative care services across all of Marlborough, without charge.”
Special thanks also to our local partners and volunteers for their support over the week.
- Sweet Creations NZ Ltd
- The Honey Collection
- Hunters Wines Marlborough
- The Rapid Relief Team
- Event Cinemas
- Indevin Wines
- Guthrie Bowron Blenheim, Dulux Paints, Porters Paints & Aspiring Walls
- Mariners Mall Picton
- New World Blenheim
- Countdown Springlands
- Countdown CBD Blenheim
- The Farmers Market
- The fabulous and wonderful Hospice Marlborough Volunteers