To help us celebrate our 30th Anniversary, staff within the Hospice of the Valleys are putting their best foot forward and taking part in the Admiral Swansea Bay 10k.

Sarah, Michelle, Jemma, Carolyn and Rachel help make up the Clinical and Admin Teams and provide support for patients and their loved ones during their greatest need.

Here's an example of the fantastic work they do and how your support will continue to make a difference to people's lives.

"My name is Bernard Bennett. I am 82 and I have lung cancer. My wife Sheila is 79 and is living with Dementia.

Most recently the Hospice has supported me and Sheila, since her Dementia diagnosis. Despite having lung cancer myself I am Sheilas main carer. Jemma one of the Health Care Assistants from the Hospice comes to sit with Sheila once a week for me to go shopping. Sheila panics if Im not there, but Jemma has such a calming manner that she helps Sheila relax when Im not there. It also gives me a break when I go to do the shopping as I can chat to other people when Im out and about.

Sarah one of the Social Workers has also been a massive support, she comes to see me and Sheila and is always there on the end of the phone if we need anything or have any questions.

Jodie one of the nurses at the Hospice has also been a big support to us, she reassures us when we are anxious about things and again is always at the end of the phone if we need her.

Everyone is tremendous and have been such a support not only to Sheila but also to me as her main carer. They understand my illness and how hard it can be for me and they provide the support I need to help me care for Sheila.

In conclusion I find it very difficult to put into words how wonderful the hospice and their staff are and to express my familys gratitude for just being there for us."

The demand on the services provided by Hospice of the Valleys has not gone away during the current pandemic. Patients and carers still need support and for those feeling more isolated and vulnerable the needs are even greater now than ever before.

Since the hospice opened in October 1991, the charity has supported over 10,000 patients and their loved ones through some of the most difficult times in their lives, providing specialist, compassionate palliative and end of life care.

We could not do this without our tremendous and loyal supporters.

None of us know what the next thirty years will hold, but we need to make sure that we can still be here to support anyone in our local community who needs our support, with your continued help we can do this.