TWO of our hospice staff will be braving the elements to help raise vital funds for the charity.

Nurse Tracie Dempster, Head of Care for chYps, will be swapping the comfort of her office for the great outdoors as she tackles a five-day Castaway Survival Challenge this month.

On Saturday 22nd September, Tracie will be packed off to a mystery UK location, where she will master the art of survival ? including fishing, purifying her own water, building a shelter, and search and rescue.

By facing her fears, Tracie hopes to get sponsorship for chYps to provide hospice care to more than 120 seriously ill children and their families, across West Kent and the London Borough of Bexley.  

Tracie said: ?I think this trip will be a real challenge for me as I hate ?ickies? and am not good at camping. But when I think of the challenges that the children and young people on the chYps caseload go through every day of their short lives, this survival challenge is nothing in comparison. How can I fully empathise if I have no true knowledge of ?surviving??

"I hope to heighten the profile of chYps by raising awareness and of course a bit of money."

Meanwhile colleague Tracey Hill, Head of Support Services, is preparing for a seven-day Arctic Survival Challenge, taking place in Northern Sweden early next year.

Along with her husband Simon, Tracey will have to build her own shelter and hunt for food while braving blistering sub-zero temperatures of minus 35 degrees.

Keen skier Tracey will also have the chance to try out cross country skiing, dog sledging, snowshoeing and skidooing.

Tracey said: ?I know the challenge will be tough and I?m particularly worried about catching my own food and managing on rations. But I wanted to do this to support our fantastic fundraising team. Five of my family members have been cared for by EllenorLions Hospices throughout the 15 years I?ve worked here.

"I wanted to do my part in helping them to raise the enormous amount of money we need to run our world-leading hospice service.?

To help raise funds, Tracey will be holding a Celebrity Auction at the EllenorLions Hospice in Northfleet, on Friday 19th October from 7pm. For a full-list of auction items, email  

To support Tracie in her Castaway Challenge visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/chypscastaways

To sponsor Tracey and Simon visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/teamsimonandtracey