Hair-razing for Hospice

It’s been a hard year for Te Omanga Hospice, because of Covid-19 a number of fundraising activities could not take place, even though their support to patients throughout the community continued as an essential service. I didn’t realise that 1 in 3 people who die in the Hutt Valley are supported by Te Omanga. The hospice has to raise 3 million dollars every year to keep their services free of charge, so every dollar counts!

Our beautiful Helen was supported by Te Omanga Hospice during her journey with pancreatic cancer. Helen was able to stay at home and be cared for by whanau, with support from Te Omanga including – Doctor home visits for check-ups; daily nurse visits; loan of equipment and a hospital bed; supervision of medication. Help was only a phone call away – no matter the time of day or night – so reassuring! There was no one-size fits all – it felt like her care was individual to her, to meet her specific needs.

Helen looked forward to the daily nurse visits, not just for the medication stuff, but for the conversations – she often had questions about her condition and about the process of dying.

Helen was admitted to the in-patient unit a few times to have her medication adjusted under observation; and to transition from Wellington hospital to home. Whanau were always made to feel welcome…we even had a huge picnic on the front lawn!

Helen took advantage of everything available to help her family and, with her husband and children, participated in the Art and Music Therapy programmes run by Te Omanga. In Art Therapy they created a huge heart to fill with their favourite things – it hung in the hallway at home, and it became a focal point with visitors encouraged to add to it!

I am planning to do something incredibly humbling to support their work by shaving my hair off. And that’s how my “Hair-razing for Hospice” is going to help the patients of Te Omanga Hospice! My hair is being donated to a wig maker who makes hair pieces for cancer patients. With your help I’m hoping to raise $15,000 which will help Te Omanga provide 10 Days of Care for patient care.

So if you are able to help me to help Te Omanga in the wonderful work they do in our community, please make a donation.

My “hair-razing” will take place on Saturday 12 December 2020 – and I’ll post photos!