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THE Marillac Neurological Care Centre reaches an exciting milestone this September as the charity celebrates its 100th anniversary.
The centre was opened initially as a tuberculosis sanatorium in 1921 by the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul, a worldwide network of Catholic women who for centuries have dedicated their lives serving anyone who stood in need of help. Today the Marillac operates as a 24-hour care and rehabilitation centre for adults with complex neurological conditions and injuries.
To mark the centenary this week, current and former staff, residents, and their families were treated to a day of activities, including live music, a free raffle with 10 star prizes and an awards ceremony.
Celebrations started with a live-streamed mass at the centre’s chapel, in keeping with the Marillac’s Christian heritage. A narrative of the Marillac’s 100-year history was displayed through pictures around the main hall.
Chief Executive Officer of the Marillac, Paul Dixon, reflects on the Charity’s centenary:
“It is a remarkable achievement for the Charity to be able to celebrate 100 years of service to the community. The Charity holds a special place in the hearts of people who pass through the doors for treatment, visit their loved ones, come to celebrate with the community or, as in my case, come as a place of work.
“I am proud to be part of the centenary team that, with my colleagues beside me, holds the service ready for the residents and staff of the future.”
The centre’s name derives from Saint Louise de Marillac, co-founder of The Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul. Much has changed since the Marillac first opened, but its core values – RESPECT, TRUST, HOPE, DIGNITY and EXCELLENCE – are drawn from the inheritance of the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul, remain the same.
Paul said:
“The Marillac Neurological Care Centre has morphed into what it has become today on the back of all the wonderful and diligent staff who have worked here. The care and commitment shown by them is nothing short of amazing, and the success and longevity of the service is down to the Founding Sisters and those that have followed in their footsteps.
“Anybody who works here accepts that there is a legacy to fulfil, and it is our duty to match the excellence and caring nature of those that have gone before.”
Finance Assistant at the Marillac, Katy Cutmore, says she feels lucky to work in such a place:
“The Marillac has – and continues to – evolve, making it the truly unique, special place for residents, staff and families that it is.
“I have seen many changes during my time here, but the five values are always paramount.”
The Marillac contains a full multi-disciplinary clinical team for its 52 residents, including Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Music Therapy and Psychology, as well as state-of-the-art equipment. The centre also offers day and outpatient therapy services.
Patricia McCarthy, the wife of former resident Gerry McCarthy, says being at the Marillac Centre was like being in a beautiful sanctuary:
“We are so grateful for all the aspects of our shared experience at the Marillac – physical, emotional, spiritual, medical – and also the loving care we saw so often.
“The family were always made to feel at home there with him too. Gerry’s eight-year-old grandson always felt welcome when he visited his grandad and is doing a 5km sponsored run for the Centre in September.”
Husband of a former resident of the Marillac, Barry Hawkins, says seeking support from the Marillac was the best decision they ever made:
“My wife was a resident at the Marillac for nearly five years after falling off a horse and sustaining brain damage. On visiting the centre, all my prayers were answered. The service my wife received was to the highest standard possible, and the other part was they looked after me and my family.”
This will be the second milestone that the charity has reached this year, after becoming an independent charitable company on 1st April 2021. The Marillac simultaneously became a member of the Daughters of Charity Services group, a family of Vincentian charities responding practically to present and emerging poverties across Great Britain.
charitytoday.co.uk | 9 September 2021
A 10k night-time walk in aid of leading Cardiff charity City Hospice will return for a second year on September 18.
The Sparkle Walk, sponsored by Dario Security, first took place in 2019 and returns after a hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. The 10k route starts and finishes within the grounds of Insole Court and travels through Llandaff and Whitchurch, including a stop at City Hospice where participants will have a chance to leave a message for their loved ones in the specially designed Memory Garden.
Among this year’s participants will be Rebecca Bullen, who is walking with a group of ten family members and friends in memory of her husband Carl, who passed away from cancer in June 2019.
Rebecca said:
“Since supporting the Forever Flowers campaign, I have found talking and raising awareness about the hospice to be a positive step in supporting me with my grief. I want to support City Hospice for the care they gave Carl at the end of his life and the support they have given my daughter Ffion and I since.
“The Sparkle Walk is a few days before what would have been Carl’s 40th birthday, and it will be very special to come together with my loved ones and join other supporters of the charity to share our memories. I hope the stars will shine on all of us and that this will be the first of many Sparkle Walks for me, my family and friends to support the amazing charity that is City Hospice.”
The only home-based specialist palliative care provider in the capital, City Hospice, provides care to people with terminal or life-limiting illnesses such as cancer, dementia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and motor neurone disease (MND).
The charity provides care to 550 patients at any one time, as well as counselling and support services for families.
Liz Andrews, Chief Executive of City Hospice, said:
“We are delighted to bring back our Sparkle Walk and are working closely with the venue to ensure a safe experience for all involved. It is fantastic to see new walkers such as Rebecca and returning participants taking part in this year’s event, which is a brilliant opportunity to come together and let the memory of lost loved ones shine on.”
charitytoday.co.uk | 9 September 2021
A daring team of fundraisers braved 100 tons of mud and 25 gruelling obstacles along a 12k route to raise funds for the Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity.
‘No pain no gain’ was the motto for five colleagues from The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust when they participated in the punishing Total Warrior – The Original challenge at Bramham Park, Leeds, on Saturday 10 July 2021.
The team, called The Ted’s, survived 10 tons of ice, 100 tons of mud and challenging obstacles with eye-watering names such as the Worm Muncher, Peaks of Pain, the Human BBQ and the Shocker to raise £1,277.
Emma Parkes, the Trust’s Interim Director of Communications, said:
“In the run-up to the event, the nerves definitely kicked in as we wondered what on earth we had let ourselves in for. But we were determined to do something big and bold to raise funds for our hospital charity and to hopefully inspire others to fundraise in future too.
“It was an incredible event – physically and mentally challenging but also a lot of fun. We dived through icy water, jumped over flames, were dunked in pools of mud, we carried huge logs and scaled massive cliffhanger sized obstacles. We feel really proud to have survived and to have raised so much money for charity too. Please join us again next year!”
The Total Warrior team also included Damian Staples, Communications Manager, Kerry Gedney, the Trust’s Cancer Services Improvement Programme Officer and former Communications Officer, Graphic Designer John Slater and Communications Officer Christina Curran.
Now in its 10th year, with thousands of participants taking part annually, the Total Warrior event promised the world’s best obstacles and ‘more pain for your pound than any other race.’ It certainly delivered!
All the funds raised by the team will help the charity to provide the extra special resources, equipment and projects which the NHS would ordinarily not be able to afford.
Suzanne Rutter, Charity Engagement and Development Manager, added:
“Our first Total Warrior team has set the bar incredibly high, and we couldn’t be prouder. All their hard work training for the event really paid off. The event certainly wasn’t for the faint-hearted, but it was great to see them enjoy the challenge and how proud and relieved they were to cross the finish line with all their fingers and toes intact! Thank you to everyone who sponsored them and provided much-needed moral support.”
There’s still time to sponsor The Ted’s Total Warrior team by visiting their JustGiving page.
If you would like to join Team Ted’s in 2022, please get in touch. For more information, please contact Suzanne Rutter on 01709 426821 or via
charitytoday.co.uk | 16 July 2021