Welcome to our April 2010 e-News bulletin

Nursing news....

Our new-look e-News begins with a new regular feature from our wonderful nursing teams....

Iain Rennie Nurses are currently caring for 264 adult patients and 30 children across the Chilterns area and we have 42 nurses, 10 bank nurses and 2 healthcare assistants working in our teams. Some of our nurses tell you about their experiences in the nursing section of our website, which also includes a selection of the lovely comments we receive from our patients and their families about the care they've received.

The demand for our services continues to grow so we really need to employ more nurses. If you, or anyone you know, would be interested in nursing at IRHH please call our HR team on 01494 877200 or email Suzanne at scasey@irhh.org

Ginny Allen from the Wycombe team was recently featured in the local papers when she received a BSc (Hons) degree in palliative care from the University of Hertfordshire. The research Ginny carried out for her project has improved the quality of life of many of our patients. Click here to read more about Ginny's work.

Look out for more nursing news in future bulletins... including reports from our nursing teams, Family Support Team and Education & Professional Development Team.

Sign up for the Mardi Gras extravaganza on 19th June

This year's Goodnight Walk on Saturday 19th June will be IRHH's fourth... but the first for our new Head of Fundraising, Helen Mariner, who joined us this week. Helen is happy to be joining our successful fundraising team, bringing with her a wealth of experience from her time at ActionAid and UNICEF. "I can't wait to get involved in what promises to be an exciting year for IRHH, with not only the Goodnight Walk in June, but the 25th Anniversary Celebration and our second Chilterns 3 Peaks Challenge, both in September." said Helen.

This year's Goodnight Walk has a Mardi Gras theme and we already have over 100 people signed up! Join the party by registering at www.gnwalk.com or calling our fundraising team on 01442 890222.

Shop Stories

The big news from our shop empire is the opening of what will become our 10th shop, in Holmer Green. The shop is due to open on Friday 14th May - more details will appear on our website and in the May e-News bulletin.

Vacancies at IRHH

We are currently advertising for a number of exciting posts in our ever-expanding shop empire and nursing teams, including a Practice Development Nurse, Iain Rennie Nurses and a Shop Manager and Assistant Shop Manager for our new shop in Holmer Green. For more information about these, contact Suzanne on 01494 877200 or visit the careers section of our website by clicking here.

Join our team of volunteers

At IRHH we simply couldn't provide the level of service we do, across all the departments, without the enthusiasm and knowledge of our volunteers. Whether offering bereavement support or complementary therapy, helping in our shops and offices, or coming along to events, our volunteers really are key to our organisation. We currently have specific needs for:

• - more complementary therapists in the Wycombe area

• - a receptionist who can work on Wednesday afternoons in our Gillian King House office

• - people with decorating and DIY skills to help kit out our new shop in Holmer Green, plus volunteers to work in the shop when it opens

• - a wrapper (that's wrapper, not rapper!) who can help parcel up items sold from our eBay shop

Click here for more information and more ways in which you could help, or contact Jane on 01494 877200, email jcarruthers@irhh.org

STOP PRESS: To find out more about volunteering in our new shop in Holmer Green, which opens in May, come along to our open morning at the Baptist Church Hall, Holmer Green, between 10am and 1pm on Wednesday 28th April.

Dates for the diary

As well as the Goodnight Walk in June you'll find a host of events and activities taking place over the coming weeks in the Whats On section of our website.

Highlights include:

• - an open Tennis Day in Widmer End on Wednesday 21st April

• - a Quiz Night in Beaconsfield on Saturday 24th April

• - a St George's Day Party in Potten End on Saturday 24th April

• - a Book Browse in Tring on Saturday 1st May

• - a concert entitled "Music for a Summer's Evening" at Wycombe Abbey School on Sunday 4th July

On Sunday 25th April we have a team of 33 runners taking part in the Virgin London Marathon. All of the runners who take part in this fantastic event say that they really need the support and encouragement of the spectators to get them round the course. If you can join the IRHH cheering squad in the Canary Wharf area of London (near South Quay DLR station) contact Stella on 01442 890222, swilkinson@irhh.org

Preparations are well under way for the annual Pepper Show, this year entitled Pepper Rocks, at Berkhamsted School's Centenary Theatre from Friday 16th to Sunday 24th July (excluding the Monday and Tuesday). The spectacular show is suitable for all ages, and is the complete evening out, with pre-show and post-show food, drink and live acts performing in the Grand Marquee, which also hosts a raffle, tombola and a silent auction. Volunteers are needed to help with the box office, to promote the event and on various stalls while the show is running. For more information visit www.peppershow.com

To find out more about any of our events, or to let us know about an event you are organising for IRHH or Pepper, please contact our fundraising team on 01442 890222, email fundraising@irhh.org

Fundraising highlights

We are delighted that House of Cards in Tring and Chalfont St Peter have chosen to support IRHH as part of their 20th Anniversary celebration. Throughout April, they will be selling a great range of greeting cards at 1990s prices (75p) and all money raised from the sale of this range will be c oming to IRHH. They are also enclosing £20 vouchers within the card packaging so you could win yourself a handsome prize too!

We continue to receive much-needed support from individuals, clubs, groups and organisations throughout the region, and we are constantly amazed at the diverse ways that people find to raise money. Click here to read about some of the latest endeavours, including an intrepid trekker, a 93-year old knitter and much much more.

Would you like to win £1000 every week? Join The Hospice Lottery and not only will you be raising funds for Iain Rennie Hospice at Home, but you could win some great cash prizes too. Click here for further details or call The Hospice Lottery on 01442 891459.

If you are thinking of sending flowers or gifts to your family or friends, please consider using Charity Flowers. They supply high quality flowers by post to anywhere in the UK , and Iain Rennie will benefit to the value of 15% of the price of your order.

You can order online at www.charityflowers.co.uk , or by telephone on 08705 300 600. Remember to quote "IRHH" when you place your order!