Hospiscare

Jamie Oliver helped a nine-year-old Exeter girl create a very special birthday for her terminally ill dad.

Katie Cowell wrote to the celebrity chef saying she and her dad were big fans and could he help make her dad’s birthday one to remember. Jamie immediately sent a signed copy of his latest book Comfort Food personalised to the family.

“Katie was so excited when the book arrived and wanted to give it to her dad Chris straight away but she agreed to wait until his birthday today,” said mum Clair.

Chris is a Hospiscare patient so when Katie decided she wanted to...

Exeter footie and rugby fans are being urged to join an exciting new men’s walk – The FUGBY12.

Join the 12 mile sponsored walk from Exeter City Football Club and relax with a free pint and a pasty to watch the Six Nations rugby afterwards or some footie action.

The FUGBY12 is the new name for the Hospiscare Men’s Walk and for the first time it will be starting and finishing from Exeter City's St James Park on Saturday March 21.

This event mixes the sports of rugby and football and offers a new countryside route for walkers, who on returning to the stadium will...

Grab some glowsticks and join the first ever Exeter Neon Night Run!

The circular route 5k run on May 30 starts and ends at the University of Exeter where there will be light stations to pick up the neon colours.

“We wanted to offer something new,” said Celia Wilkinson, Hospiscare running and challenge fundraiser.

“This will be the first neon night run in the South West. We’re delighted we’ve already had huge interest in the run, with over 1,000 likes on our Facebook page.

"Join us for a magical night of music, lights and a great party atmosphere. Don’t know...

Exeter’s hospice was full over Christmas as doctors and nurses cared for 12 people needing acute specialist help. Dawn Berger, pictured, who lives in St Thomas spent a very enjoyable Christmas Day at the hospice after being admitted a week ago.

She said: “My husband and friends visited, I had a wonderful Christmas lunch sitting in my bed, there was a visit from Santa who gave me toiletries and chocolates and like everybody else does at Christmas I fell asleep.” Dawn’s dog Darcy enjoyed spending the day on her bed.

Hospiscare staff helped three patients to go home before...

A Hospiscare charity shop manager saved Christmas for a Topsham family after finding nearly £1,000 in notes stuffed in a donated pair of men’s boots.

The £980 was still in wads with bands around them after an elderly man had collected them from the bank to give to his family at Christmas.

He stored the money in the boots then forgot and donated them to the local Topsham Hospiscare shop.

Jackie Hulin, shop manager said: “A gentleman brought in two bags, one of clothes and another with boots and he gift aided them.

"I put them to one side and it was only when...

Exeter charity Hospiscare is celebrating after receiving an early Christmas present - the £3,540 left outside one if its city shops last month.

Today (Thurs) local police officially handed over the cash found outside the Hospiscare Cowick Street shop as the identity of the donor remains a mystery. No one came forward to claim the cash, the police are satisfied it was a genuine donation and Hospiscare has now banked the used £20 notes left in two carrier bags outside the shop window on November 10th.

Glynis Atherton, Hospiscare chief executive said: “I would like to say a...

Trekkers on the first ever Hospiscare Sahara Trek Challenge are celebrating after raising £40,000 for the local Exeter charity.

Twenty two intrepid trekkers endured searing daytime temperatures, chilly nights, a sandstorm and even spent an evening teaching the hokey cokey to their local Berber guides!

Celia Wilkinson, Hospiscare running and challenge fundraiser, said: “We only walked for three days instead of the planned four because of a massive sandstorm which appeared from nowhere, it was nice and sunny and blue skies, then it went quite dark and the wind got up. As our...

Hospiscare nurses and doctors have given hope to a dying Exeter man who is now looking forward to spending a very special Christmas with his new found family.

Richard Potts, 66, arrived 20 days ago at the city hospice two stone underweight and hallucinating because he was not eating nor taking his medication properly. But he is leaving tomorrow (Friday) with a spring in his step and is looking forward to spending time with the daughter he didn’t know existed until four years ago when he received a “bolt out of the blue” letter from her asking to get together.

He is hoping...

A fearless Exeter granddad is still skydiving - despite having a terminal illness.

Sonny Hepburn, 71, was given 6-12 months to live last September 2013 after being diagnosed with cancer but continues to skydive after recovering from his chemotherapy sessions.

Skydiver Peter Brookes said: “I have the privilege to call Sonny a good friend and so do my two boys Michael and William. They are only three and four but already see how being positive can change our own lives and the lives of others around us. What an amazing role model Sonny is for the next generation.

“We...

Exeter’s local charity Hospiscare is hoping that Christmas has come early after £3,540 were left in carrier bags outside one of its city shops.

Police, who are temporarily holding the cash, have appealed for the mystery donor to come forward to confirm that they intended the money to go to the charity. If the money is not claimed it will go to Hospiscare in six weeks time.

Glynis Atherton, Hospiscare chief executive, said: “The shop manager was amazed and immediately contacted the police who are looking after the wads of £20 used notes. This sum would provide almost a whole...