Many people have a misconception of a hospice. It is not a depressing place. Yes we do have some tears and sadness but mainly it is full of fun, laughter and life.
Here are the thoughts of Tony Williams who has volunteered as a Retail Assistant at our Mexborough shop for over two years. He helps with a variety of jobs including, sorting, steaming and cleaning - he makes a wonderful cup of tea too!
In his own words this is how Tony came to volunteer his services to Barnsley Hospice.
"I got to see what goes on at a hospice when I visited a friend in the Wakefield Hospice, they had given him his pride and dignity back and made his last weeks comfortable.
At the time I became a volunteer, I was visiting my wife's mum who was in a nursing home in Mexborough. I would go and do the shopping on the High Street and would pop into the hospice shop and buy one or two items and soon got talking to the staff. They explained the role of volunteers. Soon I was working as a volunteer, which is something I have really enjoyed for more than two years. The management and other volunteers are some of the nicest people I have met and worked with.
In my role as a volunteer, I have been James Bond in the fashion show and also Father Christmas in the Mall's grotto for the past two years. The smiles on the childrens' faces were a pleasure to see.
I have had my own health problems over the years, heart surgery on two occasions and prostate cancer but if I ever ned the help of a hospice I know I will be looked after.
I don't think some people know what a good job the hospice does and that we are a charity."
