In the first of a series of features to raise awareness of the work carried out at St Christopher’s Hospice in Sydenham, DAVID MILLS speaks to three people truly grateful for its care and support.

DESPITE having been diagnosed with lung cancer two years ago, 75-year-old Ron Pullen says he is a fortunate man.

The grandfather-of-two from Beckenham doesn’t want to know how long he has left to live, but with the help of St Christopher’s, he says he is coping well.

Ron, who has undergone radiotherapy and chemotherapy as part of his treatment, has been visiting the hospice in Lawrie Park Road, Sydenham once a week for two years.

Sipping a glass of red wine with his lunch, he said: “My plan is to live as long as possible. I’ve had no prognosis, I don’t know if I’d want one.

“Every other day I feel quite healthy. I look around and in comparison with some people I have seen here I am fortunate that I’m reasonably well. I can get about.”

Two years ago Pat Christofi was diagnosed with primary lateral sclerosis, a form of motor neurone disease.

At first the 57-year-old day patient from Herne Hill didn’t want to go to St Christopher’s and “sit with a load of sick people”.

Grandmother-of-two Pat said: “They asked me before but I was too shy.

“They phoned me up again and I’ve been here ever since. I love it, it’s a day to myself.”

It was after Pat began to experience speaking difficulties and weakness in her legs that she went to the doctor.

The former cafe worker said: “It’s hard, I can’t work. I was on my feet all day running around. I was as fit as anything. I used to walk everywhere and getting this really shocked me.

“It’s gradually going to get worse but it’s a slow process.”

Debbie Calvert has worked as a volunteer at the hospice and is now its anniversary centre co-ordinator.

She lost her son Ben to osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, in 2005.

He spent his final days at St Christopher’s.

Debbie, 46, from Bromley, said: “Ben said to me when we came here, why do you have to wait til you are dying before you get this kind of care?

“Everywhere was clean, positive, it was not a miserable place to be.

“All the time he had been getting treatment it had all been about Ben whereas when we got here it was not just about Ben, it was about his sister and his mum, dad and everyone else.”

ST CHRISTOPHER’S FACTFILE

St Christopher’s provides in-patient care for more than 2,000 people every year.

On any one day the hospice looks after around 800 people in their own homes.

Multi-professional staff include nurses, doctors, social and welfare workers, occupational therapists, spiritual care workers, psychiatrists, physiotherapists, a dietician, speech therapist and pharmacist.

Care to patients is completely free, but this year the hospice needs to raise £9 million to run its services.

To find out more or to make a donation call 020 8768 4500 or visit stchristophers.org.uk