Last December, hundreds Santas, elves and reindeers stepped into the Christmas magic to take part in our Festive Fun Run.

The pandemic may have stolen 2020 and we know Christmas will be a difficult and emotional time for patients who are too unwell to be with their loved ones.

Julie Moss was thrilled to discover she’d won our weekly £1,000 jackpot.

A dedication to a wonderful man who dedicated his life to service and helping people who were seriously ill.

Frances was 93 when she died in July but she left behind a legacy that will live on for many years to come.

Kenneth Calcutt used to enjoy the social activities at Saint Francis Hospice and has been playing its Lottery to raise funds for many years.

Young Meadow show us all that an act of kindness is never wasted.

As part of this year’s Light up a Life, Christine Greer is sharing her experience of Saint Francis Hospice and how the charity cared for her husband Michael and their family.

This year, more than ever, we must remember and cherish the memories of loved ones.

Grieving is often a traumatic experience, but for children who are bereaved or facing the loss of a loved one during the pandemic, it has been even more difficult.

Pennies really do make pounds and a Hornchurch shop has raised more than £11,508 for Saint Francis Hospice by encouraging customers to make a donation instead of charging for nominal services.

Grandmother Deborah Burgess was so unwell when she arrived at Saint Francis Hospice she feared she was coming to die.

Andy was so unwell and in so much pain, he didn’t know if he would be able to attend his son’s wedding.

When the talented Jan Smith joined forces with her two friends to get creative, they raised an incredible £2,014 for Saint Francis Hospice.

Peter Yallop has been struggling with ill health for over 40 years and when his GP suggested Saint Francis Hospice could help him and his wife Linda, they had no idea it would also bring them joy, new friends, and ease mental health challenges that seemed insurmountable.

Often people don’t ask for help when they need it because they don’t know what support is available to them.

Margaret Kerr was 84 when she was diagnosed with vascular dementia. Her granddaughter, Dawn, revealed that under the strain of caring for her nan, tensions rose and her family began to bicker.

Roy Setchell, 74, has been reaping the rewards of OrangeLine: Saint Francis Hospice's service for local people who are feeling alone, isolated, or in need of a friendly conversation.

In 1961, Wilston Samuel Jackson gained the title that can never be away from him: Britain's first black train driver.

Wallace White was 73 years old when he was diagnosed with heart failure. Shortly after having a pacemaker fitted, he had a torrid night's sleep.

Kieran Kavanagh was all set to run the London and Brighton Marathons for Saint Francis Hospice in April — until the coronavirus pandemic rained on his and 50,000+ other people's parades.

Hilda Witchalls has been living with heart failure for two years. When a nurse suggested that Saint Francis Hospice could manage her discomfort, just the word 'Hospice' was enough to fill Hilda with dread.

Shortly after Ionie James lost her husband, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. When the cancer spread to Ionie's stomach, lymph nodes and bones, she didn't even want to let her children help.

When Andrea Pitty passed away at the tender age of 33, her family needed something to focus on to help with their grief. Raising money for Saint Francis Hospice gave them the chance to do just that.

Monday 5th October 2020 marks the beginning of Hospice Care Week, with its theme of 'This Is What It Takes'. 

Everyone’s life matters and hospice care is about helping people to live as well as they can and when the time comes, to help people to die as well as they can.

Four teenagers recently proved that you don't need to jump out of planes, walk the Great Wall of China, or scale Mount Everest to raise money for our Hospice.

With multiple health conditions, Christine Packer has been in the wars of late. A much-needed boost came in the form of a £1,000 win on Saint Francis Hospice's Lottery.

Last year, Steve King ran 10 marathons in 10 days for Saint Francis Hospice. This year, he went 10 better.

While the coronavirus pandemic has changed the way Saint Francis Hospice's nurses work, their care remains just as personable, as the Mubashar family recently discovered.