Funeral Service Times August 2017 November 2018 | Page 42
42 CHARITY SPOTLIGHT
Sue Ryder
More care for more people
E
very four and a half minutes,
someone in the UK dies
without the end of life care
they need.
Sue Ryder supports people
through the most difficult times of their
lives. Whether that’s a terminal illness,
the loss of a loved one or a neurological
condition – we’re there when it matters.
For over 65 years our doctors, nurses and
carers have given people the compassion
and expert care they need to help them
live the best life they possibly can.
We have ambitious plans and by 2023
want to double the number of people
we care for and support. But we can’t
do this alone. The government provides
approximately one third of the funding we
need and we are therefore increasingly
reliant on voluntary donations to ensure
we can realise these ambitions.
Funeral directors play a huge part in
supporting us and the work we do across
our hospices and in the local community.
Gemma Wise Community
Fundraising Manager at Sue Ryder South
Oxfordshire Palliative Care Hub talks about
some of the ways to get involved:
“I make sure I meet with all the funeral
directors in my area on a regular basis,
to ensure they know who to contact
if they have any queries and provide
them with our literature, things like
in memory donation envelopes and
Incredible Memories leaflets. We also
offer demonstrations of tribute funds to
encourage their use when dealing with a
client linked to our services.
“An Incredible Memories Tribute Fund is
a long-lasting way for people to remember
someone they care about. It’s the perfect
place for family and friends to share
special photos, thoughts and memories.
They may also wish to start a funeral
collection online.
“There are other ways we can work
together; we have many memorial events
which can offer sponsorship opportunities
or publicising at these events.”
The Incredible Memories Tribute Fund
set up in memory of Mike Summerson
has helped raise £3,800 for Sue Ryder.
Mike’s wife Ann said: “We as a family are
so pleased to have a place to visit, leave a
thought and share our memories of Mike.
“Mike and I were great fans of The
Eagles and there is a line in one of their
songs, It’s Your World Now, which says ‘Be
part of something good, Leave something
good behind’.
“We feel that the tribute fund enables us
to achieve that and I know Mike would be
so proud and pleased that, in a small way,
we are able to give something back and
help others to receive the expert care that
we experienced at Leckhampton Court
Hospice.”
We have resources that are free
for funeral directors to request,
from in memory donation
envelopes,information about tribute
funds or gifts in wills. Around a third
of our fundraised income comes from
gifts in wills, helping us to provide
vital care and support to thousands of
people and their loved ones.
If you would like to receive more
information about how you can support
Sue Ryder please call 0808 164 4572 or
email [email protected].
NOVEMBER 2018
www.funeralservicetimes.co.uk