Players from the Bristol Bears rugby team took time out to visit patients and staff at St Peter’s Hospice.
Gethin O’Callaghan and George Taylor met patients, staff and volunteers during the visit, which also saw them helping out kitchen staff in the coffee shop by deco-rating cakes for patients and families.
The players learned more about the work of Bristol’s only adult hospice and met patients in the in-patient unit as well as day services patients. The Bears also spoke to psychology clinical lead Tom Aplin about grief and how the hospice helps to support patients and their families during the most difficult times.
One patient excited to meet the duo was Diane, who was celebrating her 79th birthday and is a huge rugby fan.
George Taylor, whose grandmother was cared for at the hospice in 2019, said: “It was a privilege to visit St Peter’s Hospice to meet the incredible staff and patients and volunteers there and see first-hand the amazing work they do.”
The visit came ahead of the Rugby March fundraising event, which saw participants take on a 5k or 10k walking challenge before ending up at Ashton Gate to watch Bristol Bears v Exeter Chiefs on March 22.
Funds raised go towards supporting the work of St Peter’s Hospice in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
All care at St Peter’s Hospice is provided free of charge but the charity relies on gifts in wills, donations, fundraising and money raised through its retail shops to deliver its services to people in the Bristol area.