Tim Farrer has launched the Macmillan Unit at Christchurch Hospital s Christmas appeal A SCHOOL headteacher has launched the Macmillan hospice s annual Christmas appeal after it gave him and his mother a wonderful last Christmas together. Tim Farrer from Verwood appeared in a moving video message describing how he and his brother Richard spent a final Christmas at the Christchurch palliative care unit with their mother Sally Farrer as she neared the end of her battle with pancreatic cancer. Their father Roland also passed away at the Macmillan Unit in 2007. Macmillan Caring Locally, the charity which supports the hospice, is asking people to help Make Last Wishes Come True for more patients and their families this Christmas. With donations funding a memorable December 25, filled with festive food, gifts and music.
AFTER A month of chilly morning sea swims, two palliative care nurses from Christchurch have raised £5,500 by swimming the equivalent distance from England to France. Clinical Nurse Specialist Rachel Easton (left) and Staff Nurse Holly Warren support people with life limiting illnesses at the Day Centre within the Macmillan Palliative Care Unit in Christchurch. The Day Centre is currently closed due to Covid-19 and many of its patients are shielding at home, with little outside contact. To raise the funds to keep their patients online and in touch, Rachel and Holly embarked on a gruelling, month-long sponsored swimming challenge. Holly said: “It’s been a fantastic experience – cold, but fantastic - and we are over the moon to have raised so much money.