Kathy's story

“St Leonard’s is just an amazing place to come. I lost both my parents to cancer in a hospice a few years ago in Derbyshire, and I had often thought at the time about wanting to volunteer in a hospice. When I moved to York, I became a Wellbeing Companion at St Leonard’s. I hadn’t realised when I first started here three years ago that the Hospice had been here for so long, so I feel quite lucky to be here in their 40th year.

“When my Dad was being cared for, the highlight of his day was to see the man who brought the tea trolley round in the afternoon, as he always had plenty of time to chat. I gain so much from listening to patients and their families, and from hearing people’s stories, and when I do get the opportunity to do the tea trolley rounds, I hope that they gain as much from this as my Dad did.”

Thank you to Kathy and to all our incredible volunteers who make St Leonard’s such a welcoming and supportive place.