Accredited to the Hospice Association of South Africa
Accredited to the Hospice Association of South Africa
Newsletter
For those of you who aren’t yet aware of the fact, this year is our 30th birthday! Before writing this message, I looked at some of the earliest minutes of St Luke's Hospice, and I was once again impressed by what I read. The dedication of the original founder members is something to be admired, and to be proud of today. It's an honour for me to be involved with the organisation that they founded, and I want to thank them all for their vision, perseverance and dedication at the time.
– It’s a Big Word The work of Hospice originally sprang from a Christian medical and outreach foundation. In Cape Town, we named our Hospice after St Luke, with his reputation of being a physician, making him an appropriate patron saint for those concerned with caring – which is not the same as curing. Building on this foundation, St Luke’s has broadened to encompass all faiths. Today, we’re very privileged to have the strong support of different religious leaders. But spiritual care is not only about religion or a particular denomination. Perhaps His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, puts it best when he was asked by Brazilian Theologist, Leonardo Boff, ‘What is the best religion?’ The Dalai Lama’s reply was – ‘The best religion is the one that gets you closest to God, that makes you a better person by being . . .
‘The spirit often becomes stronger, and more mature, as the body grows weaker; superficialities are stripped away.’ Whatever its context, ‘spiritual’ will always be a big word . . . as an important component in the make up of each and every person that we care for – with your help.
Do you ever wonder how your donations help? Here are just three Examples:
Whilst the word ‘hospice’ has its roots in the middle ages, the scienti fic development of nursing specific to chronic or terminal illness only began in the last century. Briefly, to palliate means to make the symptoms of a disease less severe, when the cause cannot be removed. And because we are all made up of body, mind and soul, real palliative care extends holistically to all three aspects of our human existence.Through your wonderful donations, this is the gift you give to every person receiving care from St Luke’s Hospice. Paul Sutherland was one of these patients. Paul had basal cell skin cancer. Initially it was a mild form, but then it became aggressive and he lost one eye as a result. In an attempt to save his other eye, Paul underwent radiation treatment. But it didn’t stop the spread, and he became blind. Paul was no longer able to work. He needed a full time carer. And he was in constant, often unbearable, pain. But the St Luke’s team (which includes friends like you) was able to give support throughout his illness, and also his death. Palliative care is about living well until you die. This is the essence of the gift that you give.
Our 30th birthday is your celebration too
Dr Christine Dare, inspired by the work of Dame Cicely Saunders in the UK, was the driving force behind the early establishment of St Luke’s Hospice in 1980, with one Voluntary Services Co-ordinator working out of a leased room at the Vincent Pallotti Hospital.
Thirty years later, in addition to our headquarters and ward facilities in
The present day St Luke’s has been formed by many, many dedicated heads and hands – yours amongst them. So please take pride in what you’ve helped to achieve, and share this happy milestone with us this birthday year.
Just as your donation to St Luke’s today deserves an appreciative ‘thank you’, so does your gift to the future. And whilst we will always respect the wish for anonymity, it can be so much more rewarding for us to be able to thank you for a confirmed bequest in your Will, if that information is revealed to us in confidence. If you have already made a bequest to St Lukes, we’d be so happy to hear from you. Or if you have an interest in finding out more about giving through your Will, please call Jill Chiappini at St Lukes on 021-797 5335 Events- Special dates for your diary
We’re planning a number of events to celebrate our birthday. August • Thursday 26 to Sunday 29: Cavendish Square Charity Booksale.September • Friday 3 to Saturday 4: Celebrate St Luke’s 30th birthday by joining us, and the Giggling Gourmet Jenny Morris, for a funfilled weekend at Cavendish Square where St Luke’s themed birthday cakes by various talented Cape Town bakers will be on display to be judged.October • Sunday 3: Remembrance service in honour of the patients we’ve cared for over the past 30 years. Venue to be confirmed.• Sunday 3 to Friday 8: Excursion to Carmel on the headland above Victoria Bay near George. Cost: R2700 per person for 6 days, including transport, shared accommodation, meals, gratuities and outings. Contact Pam Bosman or Alison Burton at 021-797 5335.• Saturday 16: Concert in aid of St Luke’s Hospice at Muzone, Brackenfell.• (Date not yet available): Open gardens at Cellars Hohenhort Hotel, Constantia. For any enquiries, Alison, on 021-7975335, will help you.December • Sunday 5: Tree of Light ceremony. Traditional stalls will operate from 16h00 onwards, with food and drinks also on sale.For more information, contact us on fundraising@stlukes.co.za
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