North Devon Hospice was there for our friend and colleague

In May 2022, our dear colleague and friend, Steve, sadly passed away from cancer.

Having been diagnosed nine years previously, Steve had been receiving treatment for several years and during this time, continued to work alongside the team and I here at Plumbase Barnstaple.

But in December 2021, Steve shared the sad news that his cancer had spread, and he could no longer have any further treatment.

Despite this news, Steve continued to be positive and remained in his job as a driver for as long as he could – he didn’t want to stop working and enjoyed the routine.

This was also around the time when he and his partner, Michelle, were referred to North Devon Hospice – an amazing local charity who scooped them both up with open arms.

As Steve’s illness progressed, the hospice were there to offer care, comfort, and guidance, through what was an incredibly difficult time.

While nurses from the wonderful Community Team visited Steve at home to monitor his symptoms and help manage his pain, the Bedded Unit Team made sure Steve felt safe and comfortable in his final days and enabled Michelle to spend precious time with her husband with support ready and waiting for her whenever she needed it.

This year, North Devon Hospice is marking its 40th anniversary year.

Knowing first-hand the impact this vital local charity makes, the Plumbase team and I wanted to do something special to help celebrate this milestone and raise as much money as possible in memory of Steve and to ensure others like him can access the lifeline of care and support the hospice provides to so many in our community facing a life-limiting illness.

So, this January, we proudly joined the hospice’s 40 for Forty Business Club - and what a year we’ve got planned!

Above: Toby with Ali Hunt, Head of Fundraising at NDH

As part of our annual fundraising initiative, we’ll be flying the flag for North Devon Hospice throughout 2024 and fundraising in all kinds of ways to hit our £1,000 target and help ensure our hospice is here is in future; caring for our community, time after time.

But more than this, we’ll be remembering Steve and the difference having the support of the hospice made to him and his family at a time when it really did matter most.

For him, to have that reassurance and know that both he and his family would be taken care of made the world of difference.

To join us in our fundraising mission and become a 40 for Forty Business Club member, visit northdevonhospice.org.uk or contact Claire Paine at clairepaine@northdevonhospice.org.uk.