Festive cards designed by patients at hospice

Bringing a personal touch to Christmas the cards are now on sale in St Catherine’s 14 charity shops across Sussex and Surrey as well as online at www.stch.org.uk/christmas.

The wide range of cards on offer means there really is something for everyone from traditional snowy scenes and Christmas trees to more humorous designs featuring carol singing vegetables!

Wayne Stepney, Front of House Services Manager at St Catherine’s, explains how patients became involved in the project: “Our patients created some artwork last November, which was displayed at St Catherine’s and uploaded to Facebook.

“The artwork received hugely positive feedback from our supporters, so we were inspired to create some Christmas cards. This year we asked patients from our Day Hospice, as well as those from our bereaved young children’s group, to contribute designs. The public love the concept of it.

“Our sales have been going well so far and our patients are already making art for our 2016 range!”

Christmas is a poignant time of year for St Catherine’s patients and their loved ones and the hospice is on hand throughout the festive season to continue to provide practical and emotional support to people whenever they need it.

This vital support costs £180,000 over the 12 days of Christmas, or over £30,000 for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day alone.

Whether the hospice is supporting patients in their own homes or those staying in the hospice, the friendly team make sure the festive period is both special and memorable for those who could be spending their last Christmas together.

Lindsay Day, Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner, said: “The patients in our Day Hospice really embraced the Christmas spirit when they designed these cards. Painting and drawing can be very therapeutic and relaxing in itself but to see their artwork sold in our charity shops and online shop is something very special.

“The families of patients I’ve spoken to have been overwhelmed and for those who are now bereaved, the cards have been a real act of remembrance.”

Buying your Christmas cards from St Catherine’s may seem like a small gesture, but it really does make a difference to terminally ill local people and their family and friends.

With shop locations ranging from Billingshurst and Burgess Hill to Oxted and Reigate, you don’t have to go out of your way to spread a little festive cheer this season and support your local hospice.

Report and picture contributed by St Catherine’s Hospice.