St Luke’s volunteer Chandni Sejpal Shah is looking forward to volunteering at the Anand Mela.. Chandni says: ‘Sadly my grandad passed away early last year, and he spent his final days being cared for by the wonderful staff, who treated him with kindness, dignity, care and respect. They made a difference to the quality of his life. My family and I are very grateful for all the support given to us, it made such a difference to be able to spend quality time with him. St Luke’s is very special and every staff member and volunteer makes a positive impact and difference to people’s lives.’
Chandni, who is a civil servant, has been volunteering since November 2011. She supports the reception team and has also taken part in fundraising events, such has the Midnight Walk, as well as representing the hospice at community and fundraising events. Chandni says:
‘ Being represented at events like the Mela is important to let the community know about the free care on offer at St Luke’s, and to encourage people to support the Hospice through volunteering, donating and taking part In fundraising events . Each year I volunteer to help with the Midnight Walk, a fantastic event in which over 1500 ladies walk to raise funds for hospice patients, supported by over 300 volunteers. This year’s event takes place on Friday 26th June – if you would like to get involved go to www.stlukes-hospice.org/midnightwalk
I would highly recommend volunteering. It has helped me build new skills, as well increasing my self-confidence. It gives me a sense of unity, and provides me with the opportunity to interact with different people from all backgrounds. I also decided to become a Patient Care Volunteer last November. I decided to support St Luke’s as I wanted to give something back to the community.’
If you would like to volunteer for St Luke’s and find out how your time can make a difference, visit the St Luke’s stall at the Anand Mela, and wear something purple to show your support. You can also www.stlukes-hospice.org/volunteer or telephone 020 8382 8000. At the moment the Hospice has a particular need for volunteers to help in our charity shops including our new shop in Hatch End.
