Life Magazine, Autumn 2018

AUTUMN 2018 LIGHT UP A LIFE SUR LA MER ON THE SEA COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES

IN THIS ISSUE 03 WELCOME 04 NEWS FROM THE HOSPICE 06 'SUR LA MER’ – ON THE SEA 08 COMMUNITY CORNER 11 SHOP OUR CHRISTMAS COLLECTION 12 LIGHT UP A LIFE 14 COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES 16 CORPORATE CORNER 18 BEHIND THE SCENES 20 GARDEN LIFE AT DAY THERAPIES SERVICE 22 EVENTS CALENDAR

Keep in touch with us online for our latest news: www.stcolumbashospice.org.uk Find us on Facebook facebook.com/stcolumbas Follow us on Twitter @StColumbas On the cover: Maria Kemph

St Columba’s Hospice 15 Boswall Road Edinburgh EH5 3RW T: 0131 551 1381 E: fund@stcolumbashospice.org.uk Scottish charity number: SC003634 Registered in Scotland No. 48700 Design by teviotcreative.com

If you would like to receive your edition of Life via email rather than post, please let us know by contacting fund@stcolumbashospice.org.uk

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WELCOME TO THE AUTUMN 2018 EDITION OF LIFE MAGAZINE IN THIS, ISSUE WE’LL BE TAKING A LOOK BACK AT WHAT’S BEEN AN ACTION PACKED SUMMER FOR THE HOSPICE AND LETTING YOU KNOW ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE COMING UP OVER THE FESTIVE PERIOD. We’ve had a lot of exciting developments in our service, all of which take us closer to reaching everyone across Edinburgh and the Lothians who need our support.

As we draw towards the final few months of 2018, I reflect on what has been another strong year for St Columba’s Hospice and all that has gone by since the beginning of the year. We were lucky to have had some glorious sunshine over the past few months allowing our patients and their families to enjoy the beautiful grounds here at the Hospice. The sight of people making the most of the time they have with their loved ones demonstrates that what we offer is so much more than simply specialist care; it’s about how the little things can make a big difference.

And whether that is spending a lazy afternoon in the summer sun, having a warm meal or getting a good night’s sleep, ensuring that people in our care can continue their normal lives as much as they can, remain independent and manage their symptoms is at the heart of the holistic care we provide. As Nick Hayes, an outpatient of the Hospice, said: “I arrived expecting to die from cancer, but I have learned how to live with the condition. I’m now back at home, making every moment count with the people I love the most.”

Find out more about how our service extends past the walls of the Hospice on page 6 where we hear from Maria, another patient who is preparing to return home to be with her husband and step-children. Here at the Hospice, we take every opportunity to enjoy the festivities, and to make time for precious moments that families

can share together. This year is no exception and we hope that you will join us with your friends and family in Charlotte Square Gardens for our annual Light Up A Life ceremony on 10 December.

We are also looking ahead to our next strategy and throughout 2019 we will be looking for your views and thoughts about the services we provide. Next year we’ll be trying to speak to as many people involved with the Hospice as possible, including families, patients, health professionals, volunteers and supporters.

We strive to continue to develop our services and to ensure that as many people as possible in our community have access to the best possible care and support when they need, and where they would like it. Please do look out for ways to engage with our new strategic planning throughout 2019, especially on our website where a survey will be available, and at some of the events we are running throughout the year.

Terminal illness can affect any family at any time.

We want our local communities to continue to be able to live well and, with our support, die well. We want people to be assured that if they or their family are affected, St Columba’s Hospice will be there to support them.

With best wishes over the festive season, and for the start of 2019.

Jackie Stone Chief Executive WWW.STCOLUMBASHOSPICE.ORG.UK

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NEWS FROM THE HOSPICE YOUTH VOLUNTEERING PROJECT This Autumn, we’re trialling an exciting new volunteering project for young people aged 17-21. Although we already have under 18s volunteering in our shops and on the wards, we want to offer young people a broader experience of the Hospice so that they can gain an insight into what we do and how we do it.

We’ve recruited four young people to be part

of this pilot project and our Deputy Volunteer Services Manager, Maggie Young, is working with managers across the organisation to give them experience volunteering across all of our departments. We look forward to telling you more about this exciting project when we have completed the pilot!

Volunteer with us!

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, we’d love to hear from you! Vacancies are updated regularly on our website or you can get in touch with our volunteer coordinator Maggie Young on 0131 551 1381 or email vol@stcolumbashospice.org.uk

A WALK TO REMEMBER A huge thank you to everyone that took part in our very first ‘A Walk to Remember East Lothian’.

We had a great turn out from our wonderful supporters and our furry friends loved the route too!

All funds raised will help us reach more people who need our support. Thank you!

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DRAGON BOAT RACE We hosted our very first Dragon Boat Race at Ocean Terminal in September. The competition was fierce with 200 participants from across the capital going paddle to paddle!

Congratulations to the Blackrock Dragons on their win!

FLOW CENTRE PARTNERSHIP We recently welcomed teams from NHS Lothian Flow Centre, Scottish Ambulance Service and Blood Bikes Scotland to launch our new partnership which will make a huge difference to our work.

SUMMER TO REMEMBER APPEAL Throughout the summer we received personalised pennants with dedications to loved ones and messages of support.

On Sunday 20 August we were joined by supporters, families and friends for our first Summer to Remember Event in Lomond Park, Edinburgh. Over a relaxed couple of hours with music from Edinburgh Brass Band and The Gilmerton Singers, cake and afternoon

tea, we took time to celebrate, share memories and remember loved ones. The personalised pennants formed part of a wonderful bunting display and were a tribute to all those who have given us such lovely summer memories.

We had over 500 donations, 380 dedicated pennants, 77m of personalised bunting and quite a lot of tea and cake!

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‘SUR LA MER’ – ON THE SEA MARIA KEMPF IS AN AMERICAN ART HISTORIAN AND DEVOTED STEP-MUM TO SIX-YEAR-OLD TWINS AND A TEENAGE BOY. ONE YEAR AFTER MARRYING THEIR FATHER DAMIEN, MARIA WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER. SHE SHARES HER STORY WITH US HERE: “Damien and I met online while I was working at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles.

Damien is French and a professor of medieval history at the University of Liverpool, and I approached him to do a project with the Museum. That later developed into us writing a book together on medieval monsters, now published in English and French.

everywhere, I was out and about all the time to the grocery store and along the high street, I also did lots of art with the kids in the house, but now, Damien has to do everything. I can’t go upstairs, so we put my hospital bed in the living room like a sofa covered in big cushions. We look after the kids part-time, but I can’t take care of them by myself.

“We got married four years ago and we had a totally normal life together: we travelled lots, did lots of activities with the kids, we would ride our bikes together to places, etc. Just as I made the decision to make the permanent move to Scotland by selling my house in Los Angeles, I started having an unbearable pain in my stomach and back. An MRI scan revealed a tumour, and exactly one year after we got married, I was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

“I found out about the Hospice through The Western General. At first I didn’t want to come here. I had a negative view about the Hospice because I understood hospices as being for people in their last days of life, but of course a huge part of what you do here is pain management. When I first came here, I still had use of my legs but I was in so much pain I couldn’t sit down comfortably, and had to stand all the time and walk everywhere.

Now, although I still can’t lie down on my back and need a wheelchair to get around, I’m in relatively little pain. I have a room here that is bright and full of light and the Hospice has a lovely view of the sea.

“I have secondary breast cancer and a large tumour in my spine. I’ve had the same surgery several times on the tumour in my spine, but after the fourth or fifth surgery I could tell I was losing the use of my legs. When I woke up from the final surgery I couldn’t walk anymore.

I’m now paralysed from the chest down.

“There is so much I can’t do now without someone helping me which has been devastating. Our house, ‘Sur la mer’, is on the sea in Portobello, it’s a great location where everything is accessible. Before, I walked

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“Prior to being diagnosed, I worked in a major museum and had grown up around art but I’d never drawn anything in my life. Since I’ve been in the Hospice, using the art room has become a regular thing. I started out doing Chinese watercolours, painting different animals. I seem to be particularly good at fish! I’ve also taken Scottish paintings and copied them in my own

Clockwise: Maria with her twins Romain and Yeléna, Maria with husband Damien on the Amalfi coast, In their garden in Portobello, Chinese watercolour fish painting by Maria, Damien with their stepson Ian, the happy couple.

style, using them as inspiration. It’s therapeutic; it’s my favourite thing to do here.

“My twins love climbing the big tree in the front and hanging out in the lounges. My husband has had massages from the complementary therapies team and loves them. My family comes as often as they can, it’s such a comforting, warm, welcoming environment.

It takes a special kind of person to work in palliative care and the people here are that special kind of person. It’s not just the nurses, it’s the doctors, it’s the volunteers, everyone that works in the café - they are all lovely people.

I actually feel like they are all my family. One of the nurses always blows me a kiss at night; it just makes you feel good. I feel so safe here, because they know how to fix anything.

“From the very beginning I was able to go home for visits and right now we’re planning for me to go home on a permanent basis. Although this won’t be the case for everyone, I can say that no matter what your situation, if you are referred to the Hospice for care, you’ll be in great hands. I will be eternally grateful to my “family” at St Columba’s. They are exceptional!”

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YOUTH CAN DO IT! WE’VE HAD SOME BRILLIANT YOUNG FUNDRAISERS OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS WHO HAVE BEEN BAKING UP A STORM TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE HOSPICE.

Christopher and Jessica visited the Hospice after their very successful bake sale which raised

£100

Rachel and her friend organised a coffee morning at Port Seton Community Centre and also did some fundraising at school, resulting in a donation of an amazing

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Baking isn’t the only way to have fun while raising money for a good cause, Vicky, Kirsty, Alex, Georgie, Eddie and Harry took part in The Big Fun Run. Congratulations to Georgie who came 3rd in the race! They raised

£735

COMMUNITY EVENTS We’ve been enjoying getting out into the community to meet our supporters. Our friends, Rex and Elizabeth from North Berwick Rotary Club helped out with a bucket collection at Fringe on the Sea. We raised over £650 in two days. A big thanks to the generous people of North Berwick and the welcoming staff and volunteers at Fringe on the Sea!

We also attended Portobello Village Fair for the first time and we had a great day! The sun was shining and Rosefield Park was buzzing with activity. We are already looking forward to next year.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED There are loads of ways to get involved so if you could see yourself organising an event, running a marathon or helping at a bucket collection, we want to hear form you.

OUR NURSES IN ACTION – TOUGH MUDDER Sharon, Nicola, Vicky, Cris, Lisa and Roxanne of the Pentland Ward team took on all sorts of challenges at Tough Mudder to raise funds for the Hospice and kept smiling throughout.

For those of you who would prefer to get involved as a group, we would be delighted to meet you. We can give a talk to your community group, visit your school or host a stall at your local fair.

Call the fundraising team on 0131 551 1381 or email us on fund@stcolumbashospice.org.uk to find out more.

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

The Giant

PUB QUIZ THURSDAY

8

NOVEMBER, 6.30PM

AT EDINBURGH CORN EXCHANGE

fantastic

prizes to be won

1ST, 2ND, 3RD PLACE PRIZES UP FOR GR ABS

For Tickets

FUND@STCOLUMBASHOSPICE.ORG.UK or call 0131 551 1381

A PIE A N D A pint BEER, GLASS OF WINE OR A CIDER

INCLUDED IN THE TICKET PRICE £75 for a team of 6 OR £15 PER HEAD

St Columba’s Hospice is a registered charity.

Charity No. Sc003634

SHOP OUR CHRISTMAS COLLECTION This Christmas, we’ve got some exciting new cards on offer, including 18 new designs to appeal to all tastes! There is a selection of the everpopular Edinburgh-themed cards, great for loved ones living locally or outside the city. We also have traditional Christmas scenes and some fun cards for children or the young at heart (£3.50 for a pack of 10).

Looking forward to 2019?

Make plans with our super Art Calendar, once again featuring 12 lovely images from local artists which you can tear off and use as postcards (£6). For those favouring a traditional planner, our stylish pocket diary returns in lavender and blue (£4).

VIRTUAL GIFTS Trying to find a gift for the person who has everything? Our new range of Virtual Gifts are now available online and are perfect way of supporting the Hospice and remembering your loved ones at the same time. From as little as £10, you can help us ensure we’re providing the best possible care for people across Edinburgh and the Lothians this Christmas.

Last order date to guarantee delivery before Christmas:

Friday 14 December

Our regular Hospice branded lines make wonderful Christmas presents, from the super soft Hospice Teddy (£6), to fragrant candles handmade in Scotland (£12), diffusers (£15) and our eyecatching star pin badges (£1). We’ve also extended our range of gifts to include festive Ho! Ho! Ho! Santa Hats, cute head boppers, classic wind-up toys and a family favourite, Elf Snap!

So, whether you’re on the lookout for some stocking fillers or need an idea for your secret Santa, we’ve got you covered. You can even pick up your gift bags!

Come and see the selection of exciting new Christmas goods in the Iona Café, they are also available online at www.stcolumbashospice.org. uk/online-shop or from our Christmas catalogue 0131 5511381.

WWW.STCOLUMBASHOSPICE.ORG.UK

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LIGHT UP A LIFE FROM COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS OF DECEMBER WITH AN ADVENT CALENDAR TO DECKING OUT A TREE IN DECORATIONS AND LIGHTS, CHRISTMAS IS A HOLIDAY THAT'S FULL OF TRADITIONS. While Christmas means something different to everyone who celebrates, for many local families the festive season starts with the lighting of our Tree of Remembrance in Charlotte Square Gardens. It’s become a tradition in its own right, an event that year after year brings the people of Edinburgh and the Lothians together, to remember family and friends.

Last year, over 2000 people gathered in the gardens for an uplifting celebration which we are sure touched the hearts of all who attended. The service provides a very moving way of reflecting and remembering loved ones while at the same time supporting the work of St Columba’s Hospice.

Light Up A Life is for everyone – not only for patients and families we have cared for and supported. It’s a moving and beautiful testimony to the hundreds of individuals remembered in loving tribute during the celebration. We appreciate, however, that not everyone is in a position to attend the event and that many people are looking for ways to be involved and celebrate the lives of their loved ones at this time of year.

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That’s why this year, we’re extending the appeal to include ‘Light Up A Memory’ an interactive map powered by memories which you can share with family and friends online. It lets you create a dedication in memory of someone special which you can visit whenever you want. Simply pick a location on the map that reminds you of the person - it could be somewhere you visited regularly together, their favourite place or even your fondest childhood memory of them. Leave a message, and a marker will keep your memory lit up on our memory map throughout the festive period and beyond. Invite your friends and family to view your dedication and share their own memories of special places too.

Visit

www.lightupamemory.com to mark your special place on our memory map.

At the Hospice, we know how important it is to remember our loved ones and that’s why we see ‘Light Up A Life’ and ‘Light Up A Memory’ as an extension of the service and care that we provide. It’s a special link between us and you, our supporters. We’ve been at the heart of the local community for over 40 years, serving local people and relying on the generosity of that community to continue our care.

For us, it’s all about making people feel welcome, being approachable and giving people enough time to talk if they need to do so. Indeed, for some families it

has become tradition that when a relative dies, they add them to the number of lights that they dedicate on our tree. We hope that by extending the ways you can remember a loved one, you’ll find new and unique ways to celebrate their lives.

By supporting this campaign, you’re helping us ensure that our patients will have the support they need to spend Christmas in the way that they choose, enjoying family traditions that makes this time of year special to them. For every £1 you donate, 87p will go directly towards helping individuals who need our support and their families. 13p goes towards raising the next £1.

So this Christmas, whether you decide to dedicate a light on the Tree of Remembrance and attend our Light Up A Life ceremony, or choose to Light Up A Memory on our online map, the donations you make will go towards helping families across Edinburgh and the Lothians make the most of the time they have together, no matter how short.

This year’s Light Up a Life Ceremony will take place on Monday 10 December at 6.30pm in Charlotte Square Gardens, Edinburgh.

Dedications can be made on our website.

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Comments from patients who have had sessions with us include:

“That was a beautiful experience.”

“That was wonderful. I feel alive again.”

"I feel better from the minute I walk into this room."

“If only I could bottle this feeling and take it home with me!”

“For a man who had never had or wanted a massage, you showed him how relaxing they could be, he always felt better afterwards.”

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COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES ARE AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE HOLISTIC CARE OFFERED HERE AT ST COLUMBA’S HOSPICE. WE’VE RECENTLY RELAUNCHED THE SERVICE AND HAVE SEEN A STEADY RISE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE USING IT EACH MONTH. Our Complementary Therapy service is available to patients on the wards, those attending Day Therapies, Outpatients and also carers and family members, all free of charge.

The service runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays between 10am and 3pm and is also available as part of the post bereavement care we offer.

We provide a range of therapies to relieve stress, aid relaxation and promote a sense of well-being. They also help to bring balance physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

All of our sessions are tailored around individual needs, talking through the available therapies, preferences and how we could tailor and adapt treatment plans around things such as positioning and pressure. Light touch Massage, Reflexology, Reiki and Aromatherapy are the most popular treatments we offer.

We have three beautiful therapy rooms, designed specifically to create a safe and relaxing space to help with rebalancing and restoring. We can also provide our service on the wards with music, lamps and essential oils to create a similar ambiance at bedside.

The team is led by Lisa Spalding, Complementary Therapies Coordinator, along with volunteer therapists Jane Arnot and Orla O’Brien (available alternate Thursdays). At present, we are recruiting for more Volunteer Therapists to join our team. If you would like to find out more about the work we do or are interested in joining the team, please contact Lisa Spalding, Complementary Therapy Coordinator or Volunteer Services by emailing vol@stcolumbashospice.org.uk.

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CORPORATE CORNER WE’RE PRIVILEGED TO WORK WITH A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT CORPORATE PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. It may be through volunteering, fundraising, Charity of the Year partnerships, or participating in sports challenges – each corporate partnership is valued and important to the Hospice, helping us to build the relationships we have within our local community.

We’re delighted to have BlackRock, Ocean Terminal, Royal Bank of Canada Wealth Management, Davidson Chalmers LLP, TSB Leith Branch, Costcutter Raeburn Place Branch and the Institute & Faculty of Actuaries as our Charity of the Year Partners this year. A huge thank you to all the staff and management in all of our charity partner teams for their enthusiasm and fundraising successes for the Hospice.

We also love having corporate volunteer teams helping us out in our beautiful gardens…whatever the weather! Here are a few photos of the wonderful corporate volunteers who have helped out over the past few months – fortunately it has been the best summer for a few decades!

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We’re always amazed at the original fundraising ideas our corporate teams come up with… Bake Off is always a huge hit, Family Days, BBQ’s, pub quizzes, shop challenges… Great ways to raise money for the Hospice but also important for encouraging team building. Here are a few examples of how our corporate volunteers are pitching in!.

BlackRock Annual Charitable Ball in April, raised an amazing £15,000 on the night.

Tommy Riah and his team at the Raj Restaurant organized a fun Sixties Charity Event in aid of the Hospice raising over £1,000.

As part of our charity partnership, Ocean Terminal, alongside Forth Ports, sponsored a brand new corporate event for us this year – a Dragon Boat Race on Sat 22 September.

We welcomed competitive teams from BlackRock, Hart Builders, RBS, Space Solutions, and even 2 teams from the Hospice!

Increasingly we see match funding from our corporate supporters – this adds a considerable amount to the fundraising total and shows a real commitment to community social responsibility on the part of the employer.

A huge thank you to our corporate supporters who facilitate this service!

How can you help?

Are you working for a corporate organisation who choose a charity to support every year?

Please nominate St Columba’s Hospice or get in touch with Barbara Brockie, Corporate Fundraiser, at bbrockie@stcolumbashospice.org.uk if you have a corporate contact we can approach.

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BEHIND THE

SCENES HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED VOLUNTEERING FOR THE HOSPICE? JULIE FLOWERS IS A WARD VOLUNTEER WHO HAS HAD A NUMBER OF ROLES HERE AT THE HOSPICE, AND BRINGS A SMILE WITH HER EVERY TIME SHE’S IN. READ MORE TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT DREW JULIE TO VOLUNTEERING HERE, AND HOW SHE MAKES A DIFFERENCE… WHAT ROLES DO YOU VOLUNTEER IN AT THE HOSPICE?

What is the most rewarding thing about the work you do?

I am a ward volunteer at the Hospice, so I spent my first year with the Hospice helping to hand out water to patients, and running afternoon tea for patients and families. Now I focus on arranging flowers and cleaning the toys in the children’s areas of the Hospice.

It is sometimes heart aching, but I like helping people. To see everybody working together, from the super nurses and doctors to volunteers, gives me a fulfilling feeling that the patients can find positives and know that they are cared for.

When did you start volunteering at the Hospice, and what prompted you to get involved?

I started volunteering around April 2017. Initially, I wanted to help out at the hospice after a young family member found comfort in a hospice before she died. Also, my best friend died a few years ago and I thought I’d find comfort, in a strange way.

Tell us about your role – what’s a day in the life as a volunteer for you?

When I assisted with afternoon tea, I would chat to patients and their families. This was awesome, as the plethora of topics was never-ending and I gained so much insight into some brave life journeys. My new role with the flowers is very enjoyable, and cleaning the toys to help out a wee bit with my pal, Cathie, is equally enjoyable.

How does your role help patients and families?

I see helping in any of my roles as a cog in the wheel of this wonderful place.

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What do you like to do outside of your volunteer work here?

My hobbies are reading, with War and Peace being my biggest achievement. I dedicated a whole summer to finish it! I also love fashion, watching the Great British Bake Off and trying out the recipes and failing terribly, and the freedom of travelling, most recently to Seville in Spain.

Anything you would share with someone considering volunteering with the Hospice?

St Columba’s has provided perspective for me.

There’s a job for anyone here, and I love that it is such a welcoming place.

Thanks so much Julie – we look forward to seeing more of your beautiful flower displays brightening up the wards!

Richa Inpat ient U rd McKay, nit M “We anag all re er, sa supp ally a id: ort fr pprec om o Patie iate t ur wa nts re he r c d eive f volun regula res te so be rly. The w h, ice cold ers. ards autifu alway water patie l with s loo nts a fres the in nd familie h flowers k . Our s also form al c ap our v olunt onversatio preciate eer ns wit h all yo s. Thank y ur su ppor ou for t.�

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GARDEN LIFE AT DAY THERAPIES SERVICE IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR, WE SET UP A GARDENING GROUP AS PART OF OUR DAY THERAPIES SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES. THE GROUP HAS BLOSSOMED AND HERE, OUR SOCIAL WORKER LIZ TELLS US WHY… Everyone can garden, no matter their physical or mental ability. The first challenge we took on was to design and plant our ‘bulb lasagne’. It’s a planting technique which was new to us all and involves layering bulbs one on top of another.

If done properly, it results in dense and flowery spring pot displays! During crisp autumn days the group sat on the Day Therapies balcony helping each other to plant bulbs and sharing stories about their own gardens and their favourite flowers.

Some of the group spent time painting pots in vibrant colours and creating the most wonderful paintings and drawings of the planters, while others made bird feeders and bug hotels! We also planted miniature daffodils and primulas that brought a cheerful blast of bright yellow sunshine to our garden during those early spring days in 2018.

by all, whether eaten with a pinch of salt or added to water with mint (also grown) to make a refreshing drink!

The group loved the thought of creating and gifting something for other people who use the Hospice, so our next venture was to plan and plant the flower troughs that now hang from the ward balconies. A lot of love and care went into the design of troughs, and they have brought a great deal of pleasure to patients, families and staff on the ward.

From small beginnings, the gardening group has reached far and has involved many patients, volunteers and staff in Day Therapies, as well as others on the wards. We hope it will continue to blossom for many seasons to come.

It’s been fantastic watching everything come to life. The ‘lasagne bulbs’ cooked perfectly and provided us with a spectacular display of colour.

The winter pansies made way for a carpet of purple and white crocuses, and then varieties of daffodils and gorgeous tulips lit up the balcony into early summer.

One of our volunteers kindly donated some tomato, cucumber and courgette seedlings – all planted up, nurtured and tended to by the group. We’ve had many fruits from the cucumber and courgette seeds, but so far only green tomatoes - I’ve heard they taste great fried! The little cucumbers have been enjoyed

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Claire created a beautiful drawing of the planter Mickey made from his old work boots.

L-R: Ian, James and Ollie enjoy tending to the garden on the balcony.

Some words from our gardeners: Mickey said:

“The gardening group brings back good memories of my own garden, growing flowers and shrubs. I’m proud to have my old work boots on display, now planted with pelargoniums and begonias!”

Ian said:

“I’ve never been a gardener, but this group brought back memories of being in the garden with my dad as a youngster. My inner gardener emerged as I recalled the advice he gave me and got stuck in. Being creative and active has been very therapeutic for me.”

Ollie said:

“For me, the painting and making has rekindled my creative talents, I especially love tending and growing the vegetables.”

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EVENTS CALENDAR St Columba’s Hospice Book Sale 13/14 OCTOBER, THE EDINBURGH ACADEMY, STOCKBRIDGE. FREE ADMISSION A book fair to raise money for the Hospice with a wide selection of books and music. There will be a mix of collectable and rare titles, a must for book lovers in and around Edinburgh.

The Art Friends of St Columba’s Hospice 19 – 21 OCTOBER, THE EDINBURGH ACADEMY, STOCKBRIDGE. FREE ADMISSION Our Art Friends exhibition showcases the very best of Scottish talent, alongside emerging new artists. This year sees artists, print makers, jewellers, sculptors and potters exhibiting their work with us. We will be holding an informal drinks reception from 6-8pm on Friday 19th October, so come down and enjoy our fantastic exhibition with a glass of wine! A portion of every sale of artwork comes to the Hospice.

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The Giant Pub Quiz THURSDAY 8 NOVEMBER, THE EDINBURGH CORN EXCHANGE, £15 PER PERSON, £75 FOR A TEAM OF 6.

Join us at our winter Giant Pub Quiz! Round up your most intelligent friends (or those with knowledge of the obscure) for this fantastic evening, testing your general knowledge for a chance to win some fantastic prizes! Tickets include a pie and a pint but be quick, this event is one of most popular offerings and sells out in advance of the night. Book now to avoid disappointment!

Light Up A Life MONDAY 10 DECEMBER, CHARLOTTE SQUARE GARDENS, FREE ADMISSION Join us for this special evening as we light up our Tree of Remembrance in Charlotte Square Gardens, Edinburgh. Each light on our tree is lit in memory of friends and family who have passed away. Carol singers and a wonderful atmosphere make this a special evening not to be missed.

Ladies Lunch 22 MARCH, 2019. THE HUB, EDINBURGH. TICKETS AND TABLES OF 10 Gather 10 of your best gal pals and join us for our second Ladies Lunch! Enjoy a sparkling drinks reception, a delicious two-course lunch, and live entertainment by the amazing Michelle McManus and local pop duo Bleeker. Guests will have the opportunity to join in in a number of fundraising activities including our exclusive silent auction, table raffle, tombola as well as taking part in lots of fun games throughout the day. If this glamorous afternoon sounds like something you and your friends would enjoy, get in touch with our fundraising team to book your tickets now.

The Giant Pub Quiz THURSDAY 18 APRIL 2019, THE EDINBURGH CORN EXCHANGE, £15 PER PERSON, £75 FOR A TEAM OF 6.

Join us for our first Giant Pub Quiz of 2019!

Tickets include a pie and a pint, but be quick, this event is one of most popular offerings and sells out in advance of the night.

Celtic Challenge 1–5 MAY, 2019. EDINBURGH TO IONA, REGISTRATION FROM £125 Take on the Celtic Challenge, our epic 200 mile cycling event! Get on your bike and cycle from the Hospice in Edinburgh to the beautiful Isle of Iona in just four days, taking in some of Scotland’s most stunning cycling routes. This event is suitable for experienced and novice cyclists alike with a training plan provided to ensure you are in top condition to enjoy yourself during the challenge! Limited places available, so get in touch today!

Edinburgh Marathon Festival 25/26 MAY, 2019. EDINBURGH Pound the streets of the capital on the flattest and fastest marathon in the UK! Taking in the sights of Holyrood Park, Arthurs Seat, Portobello Beach and Gosford House amongst others, you can run 5k, 10k, half marathon or marathon distances. Or why not round up 3 friends and sign up for the Hairy Haggis Relay!?

A Walk to Remember JUNE 2019, FROM BALERNO TO LEITH, REGISTRATION IS £15 FOR ADULTS AND £10 FOR CHILDREN. Join us for another fantastic day out with family, friends and loved ones. Whether you are walking to celebrate and remember loved ones, or just looking for a great day out to discover the hidden heart of the city, our 12.5 mile and 7 mile routes offer something for everyone to enjoy.

Forth Road Bridge Abseil 7 JULY 2019 Thank you to everyone who took part in the Forth Bridge Abseil on Sunday 1st July and raised money for the Hospice. 29 participants braved the bridge, and collectively raised a brilliant £15,613! The event will take place on Sunday 7 July next year, so if you think you can take on this exciting event, email: fund@stcolumbashospice.org.uk for further information.

To register for any of our events, or to find out more information, you get in touch by emailing fund@stcolumbashospice.org.uk or calling us on 0131 551 1381.

We look forward to seeing you at one of our events throughout the coming year!

WWW.STCOLUMBASHOSPICE.ORG.UK

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#lightupamemory

Light

up a

Life

Light up a Memory 2018

Remember a loved one this Christmas and Light up a Life on our Tree of Remembrance.

To find out how to dedicate a light on our tree contact: fund@stcolumbashospice.org.uk or call 0131 551 1381

www.stcolumbashospice.org.uk

@stcolumbas