Bears bring joy to hospice patients and staff
Players from the Bristol Bears rugby team took time out of their busy schedules to visit patients and staff at St Peter’s Hospice.
Gethin O’Callaghan and George Taylor met with patients, staff and volunteers during the visit which also saw them helping out kitchen staff in the coffee shop by decorating cakes for patients and families.
During the visit, the players learned more about the work of Bristol’s only adult hospice and met patients in the in-patient unit as well as day services patients. The Bears also spoke to Psychology Clinical Lead Tom Aplin about grief and how the Hospice helps to support patients and their families during the most difficult times.
One patient, excited to meet the duo, was Diane, who was celebrating her 79th birthday and is a huge rugby fan.
St Peter’s Hospice and Bristol Bears have also teamed up for the upcoming Rugby March fundraising event, which will see participants take on a walking challenge before ending up at Ashton Gate to watch Bristol Bears v Exeter Chiefs.
George Taylor, whose Grandmother was cared for at the Hospice in 2019, said: “It was a privilege to visit St Peter’s Hospice to meet the incredible staff and patients and volunteers there and see first-hand the amazing work they do.
“As someone with a personal connection to the Hospice, it made the afternoon even more special and we look forward to supporting them further at The Rugby March.”
Hayley Ali, Events Fundraiser at St Peter’s Hospice, said: “It was amazing to welcome Gethin and George to the Hospice ahead of the Rugby March event on 22 March.
“Visits like this do so much to bring smiles to the faces of our patients and our hard-working staff. Many patients are big rugby fans so it was wonderful to see them so excited.
“The Rugby March is a fantastic, fun event for the whole family, and we’d like to thank Bristol Bears for their ongoing involvement and support of the Hospice.”
The Rugby March will see hundreds of participants embark on a 5k or 10k walk, taking in some of Bristol’s most iconic sights and landmarks before reaching Ashton Gate.
Funds raised go towards supporting the work of St Peter’s Hospice in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. All care at St Peter’s Hospice is provided free of charge but the charity relies on gifts in wills, donations, fundraising and money raised through its retail shops to deliver its services.
To find out more about this event visit The Rugby March – St Peter’s Hospice
