Woman carer standing next to elderly man and child at St Johns HospiceCare

St John’s Hospice

August 20, 2013By

New chairs support patients with limited mobility

St John’s Hospice provides specialist palliative care services to over 2,000 people each year suffering from life-limiting illnesses or long-term conditions. The Axis Foundation donated £4,470 to the hospice, buying three patient chairs to help patients to sit and stand, as well as aiding nurses with bed transfers and hoisting.

Before we made our donation, the chairs at the hospice were low in number and of poor quality. Our new chairs will facilitate simple tasks such as sitting and standing. They also provide extra support for those who are unable to maintain their body posture. The chairs provide more than just physical support to patients with limited mobility; it helps them to build up their confidence, self-esteem and independence again.

 ‘I was delighted to hear the wonderful news of support from the Axis Foundation. I cannot thank the Foundation enough for this generous grant of £4,470 for new specialist patient chairs for use on our Inpatient Unit. Upgrading patient seating will allow us to meet the increasingly specialised needs of patients and maintain our high standards of care.’ Steve Barnes, Hospice Director

Previous Support from the Axis Foundation

In 2014, the Axis Foundation donated £2,000 to the hospice. This enabled them to purchase specialist laser equipment that helps patients with limited mobility due to painful swelling and heaviness in their limbs. The laser reduces patients’ pain and discomfort through its ability to soften tissue and reduce limb swelling.  It can also improve scar tissue (post mastectomy), increase the time it takes to heal wounds and boosts the immune system. The laser specifically helps those suffering from upper and lower limb Lymphoedema. Without adequate treatment, lymphoedema can have major effects, including long-term disability, difficulties with work and emotional problems.

“We are very grateful for voluntary grants and donations like this from The Axis Foundation which enables us to provide a much-loved service to vulnerable people with life-limiting illnesses” – Laura Marazzi, Trust Fundraising Manager

More About St John’s Hospice

The hospice, based in Central London, is the largest palliative care provider in Westminster and cares for people suffering from cancer, HIV, motor neurone disease and other terminal illnesses. People in their care need support with a wide range of symptoms including acute pain, severe mobility problems, anxiety, breathlessness and weight loss. This includes patients with advanced neurological conditions such as Motor Neurone Disease, Multiple Sclerosis and brain tumours.

A Message from St John’s Hospice on our 10th Birthday

For our 10th Birthday, St John’s Hospice had a message of thanks for the Axis family:

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Demelza nurse plays with a child at Demelza Hospice.Demelza

Our latest donation of £40,000 funds Community Nurse services for Demelza

November 30, 2012By

Our latest donation of £40,000 funds Community Nurse services for Demelza children’s hospice and wins us their Long Term Supporter Award

The Axis Foundation’s 2012 donation funds the services of Community Nurse, Emily. Emily works in south London and provides respite care to local sick children and their families.

At the cheque presentation of the Axis Foundation’s donation of £40,000 in 2012, Demelza and the families they care for sent a big thank you to Axis in the form of a Long Term Supporter Award recognising all the support, volunteering and fundraising contributed by the Foundation.

Presenting the Award Natalie Tegg, Demelza’s Head of Partnerships said “This is a well-deserved award for the Axis Foundation for all their hard work and dedicated support for Demelza.

“Your help allows the charity to continue providing its invaluable care to over 800 children and their families across the South East.
“A huge thank you, from all the families and staff at Demelza, to everyone at Axis for their tireless efforts and enthusiasm in raising money for the charity.”

Accepting the award on behalf of all the Axis people who made the Foundation’s 2012 donation possible, Sandie Ryan, Axis Business Support Director, said “It is your compassion for the Demelza cause and hard work that has resulted in this sizeable donation that we know will make a real difference to these very special children.”

The Axis Foundation’s 2012 donation of £40,000 was added to the £21,000 donated via Just Giving that year, making our grand total £61,000.

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Axis Foundation trustee present £40,000 cheque to DemelzaDemelza

Donation to Demelza Pays For Whole Year of Nursing Care

May 12, 2011By

We gifted a grand total of £52,000 to Demelza’s Adopt a Nurse programme in 2011. The money will pay for a Demelza Nurse and Care Assistant for a year.

The Adopt a Nurse initiative is vital to Demelza’s work providing hospice care for over 700 children with life-limiting illnesses and their families across Kent, East Sussex and South East London. The scheme funds the salary for a specialist pediatric nurse who delivers much-needed care to the children and respite for parents. Parent company Axis and the Axis Foundation have supported Demelza’s adopt a Nurse campaign for seven years.

Axis Foundation Trustee Sandie Ryan presented a cheque for £40,000 to staff at Demelza’s Kent hospice in April (2011). A further £12,000 was added via Just Giving donations to the Foundation. Axis people raised much of this great total through dressing up, running in the London 10K, a sponsored walk along the Great Wall of China, a golf day and a Summer Ball.

At the presentation, Sandie Ryan said: “The care these nurses provide is second to none and it’s clear to see how much the families need this extra pair of hands.”

Demelza’s Natalie Tegg said: “Demelza are hugely grateful to the Axis Foundation for all their amazing support. To raise this amount of money is fantastic. Thank you to all the Axis staff for their outstanding efforts. Their help will allow us to pay for a nurse to help children and families in the South East.”

 

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Demelza patrons cut cake at fundraising event.Demelza

Early Foundation Donation Strengthens Existing Partnership with Demelza

December 20, 2010By

Axis Foundation’s first donation of £6,000 strengthens our partnership with children’s Hospice Demelza.

Our donation of  £6,000 to Demelza Children’s Hospice (FY2010) , not only strengthened the links with our existing charity partner. but also marked one of our Foundation’s very first donations!

Bricks and Water

Prior to this, the Foundation’s parent company Axis also supported Demelza’s Bricks and Water appeal to improve the facilities at their Sittingbourne hospice. With our help, the £1.3m hospice created a Hydrotherapy Centre and two new bedrooms for teenage patients meanwhile refurbishing two existing bedrooms. Axis CEO John Hayes volunteered and was appointed  to be a member of the Appeal Board.

New Hospice in Eltham

Axis also contributed to building a new hospice for Demelza in Eltham in south east London. Olympic champions and Demelza vice presidents Jayne Torvill and Robin Cousins opened the new premises in 2009 after a £5m fundraising campaign. Celebrating the first anniversary of the Eltham hospice in 2010, our people joined Demelza supporters, nurses, children and their families at the ‘polka dot tea party’. In a short year, the new  hospice increased Demelza’s provision of care and support so that for approximately 570 children ‘life can be added to days, where days can not be added to life’.
The Axis Foundation is proud to be in charity partnership with Demelza.

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