Yva McKerlich

Spiritual Care Volunteer

“I was a teacher when my mum was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 50. In the last three months of her life she was in a Marie Curie hospice where she received such amazing care that took away her pain and maintained her dignity. After Mum died, I decided to lead her funeral using words I’d written by her bedside in her last days. Later, the funeral director then asked if I might like to lead funerals for other people, so I decided to retrain as an independent funeral celebrant. Once I had finished my training I contacted the hospice my mum had been in and asked if I could use my skills to help and became a Spiritual Care Volunteer for them. This means I visit people who want to see me, sometimes to talk about how to help plan their funeral but

Sandra Cheyne – Collection Box Coordinator

“Having seen first-hand the difference Marie Curie makes to people’s lives, once as a Marie Curie Nurse myself, it’s now a privilege to help as a volunteer, distributing and collecting donation boxes which are such an important way of raising money.”

Joan Martin – Complementary Therapist

“I volunteer on the ‘twilight’ shift at the Marie Curie Hospice, Belfast, giving massages and reflexology treatments with essential oils to patients. At night people can be at a very low ebb but I try to provide a sense of wellbeing, tranquillity and a good night’s sleep.”

■ This Volunteers’ Week Marie Curie are thanking the more than 10,500 volunteers who give their time in hospices, shops, offices, events and in communities, all to help support more people, and their families, living with a terminal illness. If you’d like to find out more about how you can become a volunteer call 0800 716146 or visit mariecurie.org.uk/yoursvolunteer