Queenscourt Hospice relies heavily on the generous legacy donations left by former patients and from gifts made by their loved ones who have benefited first-hand from the services we offer.
Family members and friends also organise their own fundraising events as their way of saying ‘thank-you’ for all the help and support received from our staff and volunteers.
A great example of this is Scott Astin, who is so appreciative of the “phenomenal” support his wife Hayley received from staff at Queenscourt before her death, that he is “giving something back” by organising a fundraising golf day.
Hayley and her family were regular visitors to the hospice for four years before Hayley’s death in June, 2018. Hayley was diagnosed with incurable ovarian cancer in her mid-30s when she was told she had up to two years to live. Hayley defied the odds and lived for a further nine years.
Hayley was referred to Queenscourt by her oncologist who thought she would benefit from the complementary therapies offered by the hospice. From an initial visit, when she enjoyed a reflexology session, Hayley became a regular visitor to the hospice as a day therapy patient and later for several stays as an in-patient.
During that time, the team at Queenscourt not only looked after Hayley, but also her husband Scott and children, Dylan, now 17; and Phoebe, now 13. It is because of the care received by all the family, that Scott felt inspired to fundraise for the hospice, so that other families can continue to be supported in this way.
Hayley’s Memorial Golf Day will be held at Hesketh Golf Club on Friday, September 27th. Registration is already open for the event and as there is only availability for 22 teams of four, places are expected to sell out quickly.
“The staff at Queenscourt were unbelievable with regards to the quality of care and support they gave to me, my family and obviously Hayley,” said Scott. “Hayley felt so safe there and every time there was a problem, they made her feel so much at ease.”
“The Queenscourt team are just phenomenal. Hayley was never treated like a patient; she was more of a family member.”
Just two months before her death Hayley agreed to share her thoughts and tell why Queenscourt is such a “magical place where life is for living.” To view more on Hayley’s story, please visit our Queenscourt Stories page.
Scott, who is the head PGA professional at Hesketh Golf Club, where Hayley also used to work, has organised a full day of competition and fun. There will be a Stableford competition, best two from four format; a beat the pro challenge and a longest drive and nearest the pin contest.
This will all be followed by a gala dinner, with guest speaker, snooker player and keen golfer, John Parrot; a raffle and auction.
Kate Tipton-Thomas, Head of Income Generation and Communications, said: “Queenscourt relies heavily on donations made by families of our patients and we are so grateful to Scott and his family for organising this fundraising golf day which I am sure will be a huge success. We hope everybody has an enjoyable day on September 27th.”
To register for Hayley’s Memorial Golf Day, which costs £650 per team of four, email Dianne Gillespie on fundraising@queenscourt.org.uk
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