Over 900 volunteers support the work of the EllenorLions in many different ways:

All our services receive an enormous amount of support from volunteers - they give their time to help in many different ways - drivers, administration assistants, befrienders, shop assistants, coffee shop and catering assistants, receptionists, handymen, gardeners - the list goes on.

If you have a skill that you think could help us, would like to make new friends, and have time to spare, please call fundraising on 01322 221 315 or email volunteering@ellenorlions.org

Peggy talks about her 17 years of volunteering

For two mornings a week Peggy Tickle is one of 'the friendly faces' of the EllenorLions Hospice – part of the team of volunteers who staff the reception desk at Northfleet.

She first got involved in 1992, after Gravesend Lions Club – of which her late husband Ian was a member – together with other local Lions Clubs had fundraised to build a hospice.  And she was already working as a volunteer before there were patients or beds – when meetings were held in empty wards surrounded by fundraising posters and placards.

Over the past 17 years she has worked in almost every department, concentrating more recently on Reception. Peggy is also still actively involved in fundraising.  Ian was also a volunteer and for many years they collected food donated by local Marks and Spencer stores for use at the hospice  - a job which Peggy still does to this day.

What has she enjoyed most about her work?

 "The people" she said, "the patients and their families – the tremendous courage and cheerfulness – and of course the nursing staff, who despite their obvious closeness to each patient can still maintain their professionalism."

Peggy has a host of memories like the times former Medical Director Dr Peter Hargreaves dressed up for parties in the hospice, one year as a 70's pop star complete with silver suit and motor bike! His young son watched with jaw-dropping amazement as his father sang and gyrated to the songs.

She has seen many changes over the 17 years – and says that the hospice is, of course, much busier and has somehow 'matured', especially since the merger.

"I am sure the work will continue" she says "hopefully with more government finance. Without the hospice movement many of the patients would be in hospital, yet hospices get just a fraction of what that would cost the NHS.

Until that happens we can only keep fund-raising and pray that people will keep responding."

Now what can you do to help?