UP CLOSE: Meet your local Hospiscare fundraiser Toni Hiscocks

Axminster Nub News aims to be supportive to every element of the community from businesses, shops and people to charities, clubs and sports organisations.

We regularly profile some of these in our 'Up Close' features, and this week we meet Hospiscare community fundraiser Toni Hiscocks.

Toni Hiscocks has been working as Hospiscare's fundraiser for the East Devon area for almost eight years. She helps raise funds for there Devon charity that offer medical advice, end of life care and support for those with life-limiting illnesses and their families.

Toni has spent her entire career working in the care sector with end of life patients. Whilst her two children were growing up, she worked night shifts for the local NHS Rapid Response team across East Devon and then moved to Marie Curie for five years, caring for patients nearing the end of their lives, again working overnight to give families a much needed break.

As her children grew up, she was then able to work days so took on a community role with Hospiscare, based at the Kings House Day Hospice in Honiton in 2014, also working in the day hospice supporting patients. Sadly, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this has now had to cease its services due to the vulnerability of patients.

Toni said: "My passion and enthusiasm for Hospiscare became more apparent whilst out talking to people in the community. I kept being asked from the fundraising team to attend community events, such as Devon County Show, career workshops and offering to talk to groups like the Young Farmers.

"I really enjoyed this part of it so when a job came up in 2018 I applied and, here I am, working as the fundraiser covering the East Devon patch."

Toni was initially one of five fundraisers, previously called Community Fundraisers, but the pandemic has meant Hospiscare has had to restructure its team. She is now one of three fundraisers covering a larger area, including Seaton, Axminster, Honiton, Cranbrook, Ottery, Sidmouth, Exmouth and Lympstone.

Speaking on her role, she said: "I work in a really broad way, networking and getting to know local community groups, individuals, schools and businesses across my patch, encouraging and influencing them to support a worthy cause and a local charity whether that be having a collection tin, sharing my posts on social media, marshalling at one of our events, taking part in one of our flagship events, like the upcoming Men's Walk, the famous Ladies Twilight Walk or simply popping along to a local group and giving them a talk about Hospiscare raising awareness and ironing out the myths that surround the charity.

"My job is to ensure that anyone who wishes to support Hospiscare now or in the future gets the best possible support. This could be health and safety advice for planned fundraising activities and open gardens, creating posters, balloons, collection tins and buckets, T shirts, stickers, social media support – the list is endless but our most important role is to say thank you and we say it a lot!"

About Hospiscare – your local adult hospice charity

Did you know the reasoning behind Hospiscare's name is because 'Isca' is the Roman word for Exeter, hence the spelling.

Hospiscare is your local hospice charity based in Exeter. It is a specialist end of life service that offers free support and advice to any adult over the age of 18.

The healthcare team help manage patients' symptoms and complex medical needs. The specialist team, including four doctors based at Searle House, Exeter, community nurse specialists and support teams, not only look after cancer patients, but anyone who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, such as heart failure, kidney disease, dementia and motor neurone disease, to name a few.

The charity has three centres in Honiton, Tiverton and Exmouth, as well as a 12-bed specialist ward in Exeter.

Many people think that Hospiscare is a large, national charity, but it is a local charity covering Exeter, Mid and East Devon. Hospiscare is not part of the NHS but its services are free to our patients. However, it currently costs £8million each year to run the service and it has to raise 82 per cent of this with the rest coming from NHS funding.

Hospiscare needs to continue to raise money to fund the free services that it provides; it's especially vital in these uncertain times to ensure its services continues into the future.

The charity recently launched its 'Save our Services' emergency appeal. In the last year, Hospiscare has seen a 15 per cent rise in patients and is caring for more people than ever before.

Having remained open throughout the pandemic, Hospiscare is still delivering care to some of the most vulnerable people in the local community, but it costs £22,794 every day just to keep its vital services going.

With the income deficit it is facing, there is a real risk that Hospiscare will have to close beds on its ward and reduce its vital weekend services in patients' homes.

If you can help, donate today at www.hospiscare.co.uk/support-our-work/fundraise/sos-emergency-appeal

Toni said: "We are truly grateful for the many supporters who decide to leave us a gift in their will, it is such a generous act, one that we will never be able to thank them for, but makes such a difference to the people in your community.

"Statistically one in five of our patients is funded through the kind gifts people leave in their wills. Such a lovely gift knowing that it will enable our service to continue into the future.

"There are many other ways you can help; why not organise your own fundraising event such as a girls night in, prosecco and pyjama party, cake or book sale, coffee morning in the office, open your garden for the Open Gardens campaign 2022, or take up a personal challenge by joining the Hospiscare Wing Walk or Skydive.

"Whatever you choose you will be making a difference."

For more information call Toni Hiscocks on 07921 845615 or email [email protected]

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