Often described by its patients and loved ones as ‘a lifeline’, Harbour Hospice is asking the community to donate to be theirs during its newly expanded annual awareness campaign so they can continue to care for patients, their families and whānau when they need them most.

Harbour Hospice Awareness Month runs from 1 to 31 May with a number of local businesses and supermarkets standing alongside the local charity in support of its vital work. Harbour Hospice Chief Executive, Amanda Fowler, says the organisation has always been humbled by the generosity of its community, and that support has never been more important than it is now.

“The health sector is under immense pressure and hospices nationally are facing significant financial strain. We see the profound impact hospice has on the lives of our community every day, and we need continued support to ensure we’re here long into the future,” Fowler says.

“Everyone deserves to live well until they die, with this campaign seeking to show the often unseen work of our exceptional teams. When a patient needs us, we pick up the phone any time of the day or night. And when a loved one is scared or feeling alone, hospice is there to wrap around them too.” Harbour Hospice is the only specialist palliative care provider in the Warkworth/Wellsford community, caring for more than 1300 people every year. But rising demand, increasing complexity of care, and limited government funding means they must raise millions each year to keep services running.

Diagnosed with CPOD at age 69, Gary* was referred to Harbour Hospice. He was reluctant at first as he thought it was only a place where you go to die, however from the day he and wife Margaret* arrived their lives changed for the better.

“I don't know whether I would have been able to cope for too much longer if hospice hadn't stepped in,” Margaret said. “They were always there, they made us feel safe and they made our lives easier.”

Harbour Hospice supported the couple in ways they hadn’t even thought of. “They helped us apply for a Disabled Parking Permit and they convinced Gary to get a wound checked that was not healing. Hospice sorted his breathing, and when things got too much for me, they would take him for a couple of days for respite care,” Margaret said.

“People don’t realise how exhausting it is to look after a loved one. I didn’t like leaving him with anyone but his sister, but we trusted hospice implicitly. When Gary went in, I would feel this relief and he enjoyed his stays. I’m just so thankful that the last few months of his life, we were both so well cared for by Harbour Hospice.”

But without continued support from the community, Harbour Hospice can’t be there for people like Gary and Margaret when they need them most, Fowler adds. “We need our community as much as our patients and their whānau need us. That’s why we’re asking everyone to be a part of this campaign. Every action, every dollar, every conversation helps ensure we can keep showing up.”

Mason Containers, Move By Design, Diamond Fusion and Northland Waste have kickstarted fundraising efforts by generously matching any online donation given during the month at harbourhospice.org.nz/awarenessmonth up to $20,000.

Some supermarkets will be asking customers to add $1 to their shop for the charity, with other local businesses supporting the campaign in different ways. Harbour Hospice Shops will also be giving customers the opportunity to add another $1 to their purchase.

“Every donation will go towards ensuring that our teams can walk alongside patients and their loved ones when they’re at their most vulnerable. Wherever and whenever someone needs us, your generosity means we can continue to be that ‘lifeline’,” Fowler says.

To find out how you can support Harbour Hospice Awareness Month (1-31 May) visit harbourhospice.org.nz/awarenessmonth.

* Last names have been removed for privacy reasons.

DID YOU KNOW?

Hospice care comes to you, wherever you are in our community.

Our care is free to anyone who needs specialist support at any stage of a serious illness which has little or no chance of a cure.

For further information please contact: Shannon Slade at [email protected] or 022 357 1570

Karyn Henger at [email protected] or 021 459 863.

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About Harbour Hospice Harbour Hospice is the only specialist palliative care provider for families living in the North Shore, Hibiscus Coast and Warkworth/Wellsford communities. We provide compassionate care, free of charge, working primarily with patients, families and whānau in their homes, and also within our three hospice sites. Our services include medical care, spiritual and emotional support, physiotherapy and complementary therapy, social activities and more, with an emphasis on helping people live every moment in whatever way is important to them.