“There’s more to Cornwall Hospice Care than you think”, says patient Caroline Brown from Par. Caroline had breast cancer five years ago, she isn’t dying, but she does need to visit Mount Edgcumbe Hospice once a week.

Caroline had a lump removed but then developed a condition called Lymphoedema. It’s a swelling in the body’s tissues associated with her cancer. A train guard, Caroline has a very physical job and some of the work can aggravate her symptoms, so she visits Clinical Nurse Specialist Helen Treleaven for treatment. “It’s a lifeline for me,” says Caroline. “It keeps me going in every way and I can carry on working. I couldn’t manage without Helen’s support and like all Cornwall Hospice Care’s services, its free so I constantly remind people how important it is to keep helping this charity.”

Cornwall Hospice Care has at its heart two hospices, Mount Edgcumbe in St Austell and St Julia’s in Hayle, but its clinical teams also support patients (aged 18 onwards) and their families in Cornwall’s hospitals, care homes and in the community with new Neighbourhood Hubs, bringing support closer to people’s homes. The charity also runs a 24/7 advice line for other healthcare professionals and is involved in educating the healthcare workers of the future.

It costs more than £5 million a year to provide the care but only 20% of this is funded through a contribution from the NHS. The other £4 million is raised with the support of businesses and individuals in Cornwall. Oli Hoare is the head of fundraising. “Recently a team of Cornish cyclists rode from St Michael’s Mount to Mont St Michel in Normandy to help fund the care we provide. Their collective efforts have ensured the funding of two thirds of all the Lymphoedema appointments we will provide this year. Success comes from working together so thank you for your support now and in the future. As businesses you can help us to make a huge difference.”

Cornwall Hospice Care, T: 01726 839156. www.cornwallhospicecare.co.uk