A charity boxing evening staged to raise money for cancer support proved a big hit – raising £8,010.
The event, arranged by The High Street Group of Companies, will help a new initiative, The Macmillan Supportive, Palliative and End of Life Service within the North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust.
The innovate partnership provides paramedics and ambulance clinicians with training and education to deliver appropriate treatment within the home, aiming to reduce unnecessary admissions to hospital and enabling people the comfort of dying at home – if that is their wish.
The collaboration expands the work already undertaken to improve end of life services for North East patients. Although initially funded by Macmillan, the service is available for any palliative and end of life patient, not just those affected by cancer.
Erin Fairly, Fundraising Manager at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “Thanks go to The High Street Group, its staff, clients and the boxers for the brilliant support.”
Macmillan Nurse Facilitator Sarah Turnbull, who has worked within the community for nearly 10 years, is leading the new team at North East Ambulance Service. She said: “A good death doesn’t just affect the person who is at the end of their life; it has a lasting impact on their loved ones. We only have one chance to get it right. So we are very grateful for this support from The High Street Group, which will make a real difference to our patients and their families.”
Staff from The High Street Group of Companies, based in Newcastle, have already raised over £40,000 for cancer charities – such as Macmillan Cancer Support and St. Oswald’s Hospice.
The majority of this came from a sponsored 50 mile walk in the Grand Canyon and climb up Mount Kilimanjaro but coffers have been boosted through a series of office based events.
*Picture caption: (L/R) Sarah Turnbull and Erin Fairly with Gary Forrest, Chairman of The High Street Group of Companies.*