We are a group of nurses from St Gemma’s Hospice raising money as a team. We are Sally (Nurse on the Dales Ward), Clare (Senior Sister on the Dales Ward), Jayne Kellet (Nurse practitioner) and Denise Kay (recently retired Senior Sister. Now Nurse Practitioner and delivering teaching).

Hospices rely heavily on donations to continue providing specialist care, support for families, and comfort for patients when they need it most. Every contribution, no matter the size, truly makes a difference.

If you are able to support our challenge, we would be incredibly grateful. Your donation will help ensure that St Gemma’s Hospice can continue providing the compassionate care that means so much to so many people.

Thank you for taking the time to read our stories and for supporting this cause that is very close to our heart.

Denise K: After many fulfilling years in nursing, I have recently retired from my role as a Senior Sister at St Gemma’s Hospice. For the past eight years I had the privilege of working with an incredible team, caring for patients and supporting families during some of the most important and emotional moments of their lives.

Working in hospice care is something that stays with you forever. Every day I saw compassion, strength, and kindness from staff, patients, and their loved ones. Being able to provide comfort, dignity, and support at such a crucial time is something I will always feel honoured to have been part of.

Now that I have retired, I wanted to mark this new chapter in my life by doing something meaningful to give back to the place that has meant so much to me.

So, I have decided to take on a very special challenge – walking the Great Wall of China.

This will be an incredible experience but also a demanding one, involving many miles of walking across steep and uneven sections of the historic wall. I will be taking on this challenge to raise funds to support the amazing work that continues every day at St Gemma’s Hospice.

Jayne K: I am taking on this challenge in memory of my husband Graham and my Dad Peter. Both were looked after by St Gemmas Hospice Graham on the inpatient unit and Peter at home. Myself supported by the bereavement team and by my incredible colleagues. I cannot say that enough they are incredible.

I work at the hospice as a Nurse Practitioner and see everyday the care and compassion that everyone who works at the hospice shows to support patients and families at the worst and most difficult time in their lives. I am proud to work at the hospice and be a part this wonderful Charity. I have never taken on a Hiking challenge before but very excited to do this with such an amazing team around me. I will be forever thankful that St Gemma’s Hospice was there when our family needed them. So I continue my journey raising money to support the hospice so it can continue to be there for others who need it today, tomorrow and the future.

Clare D: I love a challenge and as soon as I saw this I thought what an opportunity! I am proud of where I work and see the amazing things that happen everyday at the hospice. However, I am acutely aware of how much we rely on donations to ensure we stay in a good financial position and so strongly feel that it’s part of my role to be involved in fundraising. I look forwards to this challenge and am glad I’m doing it with such a lovely team!

Sally K: I am a Registered Nurse working at St Gemma’s Hospice.

St Gemmas is a Leeds hospice that cares for adults and their families in the local area who need palliative and end of life care.

The hospice supports an In Patient Unit, Community Therapy and Nursing Team and a thriving Day Hospice. It is predominantly dependent on charity donations for its upkeep .

I love working at St Gemmas and am passionate about being part of a team that provides the very best care possible, free of charge .

As such I am trekking a challenging part of the Great Wall of China over 8 days in October in order to raise much needed funds that will contribute to the ongoing delivery of the highest quality care for every patient and their loved ones.

Your sponsorship would be very much appreciated.

Many thanks!