Before self-isolation gripped the UK, Saint Francis Hospice Fundraisers gathered in Essex to run the Brentwood Half Marathon. One of those being cheered on by our supporters basking in the late winter's sunshine was Cliff White.

Public notice - all Saint Francis Hospice charity shops will be closed until further notice. Please check this website for further updates.

Please take note of our urgent update to Hospice Services - dated 23rd March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the world faces unprecedented times amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the future of our Hospice does too. Our CEO Pam Court is calling for your support more than ever before as we continue to care for those who need us in increasingly restricted conditions.

Help us protect our patients, staff and volunteers

As the 1960s drew to a close, the Vietnam war was raging, man had landed on the moon, The Beatles were breaking up, and Hans De Vrind swapped Rotterdam for Essex.

Christopher Coles was only 42 years old when he lost his battle with bowel cancer at Saint Francis Hospice. His nephew, Harry, was just 13.

Colin Eastwood was a big supporter of Saint Francis Hospice for many years.

When Geoff Stanley started nodding off unexpectedly, his GP discovered that his oxygen level was low and his carbon dioxide level was high.

The UK National Conference is Hospice UK's flagship event.

When Gary Nelson felt a numbness in one of his buttocks, his GP put it down to sciatica. Sending men in their 30s for bowel cancer screening wasn't — and still isn't — normal practice.

We're gearing up for the warmer months here at Saint Francis Hospice. With small hints of spring in the air, it's time to think about stepping back out on to your now gloriously green lawn — thanks to a very wet British winter.

Molly Graham's long honey-brown locks have been a decade in the making. She's only ever had the ends trimmed since she was born.

Help us protect our patients, staff and volunteers

Here at Saint Francis Hospice, we don't only care for the person who is ill, but everyone around them. Tea & Talk at Toby's is a monthly social gathering for anyone whose life has been affected by cancer.

When German bombs were raining down on London's East End during World War II, Ron and Pat were finding love. The teenagers met when their childhood homes in East Ham were only doors apart. Ron's mum was the matchmaker. 

Saint Francis Hospice’s 950 volunteers give up 265,000 hours each year, which saves £1.5m over 12 months. We aspire to have 1,000 of them by the end of 2020.

Lizzie Taylor's London Marathon run for Saint Francis Hospice has been 20 years in the making.

When Margaret Kerr was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2018, her family had no idea that she was living with an illness — let alone in the late stages of one.

If you're a real stickler for Christmas traditions, 5th January would have seen your baubles go back in the loft, and your Christmas tree leave the party. Any earlier or later and an old wives' tale has it that you could be in for a dose of bad luck.

Julian Hall's love affair with the pop group Level 42 began in the early 1980s.

For someone who rides horses, Sarah Lucas spends a lot of time in the mud. She always vowed that she'd never do a mud run — until Saint Francis Hospice cared for her grandad.

When Jane Ambrose went to see her GP about a lump on her calf, she was told that she needed to lose a few pounds.

Noel Trainor is one of 859 volunteers at Saint Francis Hospice. Collectively, they give up 265,000 hours each year, which saves our Hospice £1.5m over 12 months.

Over Christmas 2018, Lyn Buntrock started to feel discomfort in her stomach. Lyn, a retired nurse of 30 years, didn't find cause for concern. She was fit, healthy, without any previous health problems, and just 58 years old.

Henry O'Keefe loved his nanny and grandad. He was just six years old when they were both diagnosed with cancer in 2016 — only four weeks apart.

Josephine Cole admits that like many, she's had her ups and downs in life. 2018 was definitely an up.

When Denice Line returned from a holiday in Dubai with her husband Mick, she noticed a yellowish tinge to her cheeks. Suspecting it was a case of too much sun or something in the Dubaian water, Denice booked an appointment with her GP.

When Ken Sayer felt discomfort in his bowels, he wanted to get it checked out.