Original hospice fundraiser still giving back

6 March 2023

When a friend highlighted the need for a hospice in the community nearly 40 years ago, Liz Douglas
Brown became one of the original fundraising committee members to drive that campaign.

Today she continues to support Harbour Hospice as a regular donor because she feels so passionately about the role it plays in the community.

“Forty years ago the need for hospice was paramount. I’m a retired nurse and understand only too well that it makes such a difference to the quality of life of people near the end of life. Now that hospice is here it’s our job to support it - hospice is reliant on the community for funding,” she says.

Liz recalls how the drive for a hospice fundraising committee began. “A friend by the name of Carolyn McCondach invited myself, Helen Pilkington and Jill Magan round for a cup of tea. She said, ‘We need a hospice and I need you to help me raise $3 million to do it’. That’s where the push for it all started.

“Carolyn’s daughter Louise had died from cancer at the age of 14 and she didn’t want anyone to have to suffer like her little girl had. So, we started having meetings and involving our friends and family and we organised a jazz concert and a ball and all sorts of events to raise money.”

Liz says it gave her and the other committee members a great sense of achievement to know they were helping provide something in the community “that all of us were going to need at some stage”.

“Hospice is just such a lovely environment to spend your last days in. Three years ago I was diagnosed with metastatic grade four melanoma, and I'm thankful Hospice is now an integral part of our community."

Just like Liz, you can become a Hospice Heart and donate each month so that hospice will be there when you, or a loved one, needs it. Please click here for more information.

Thank you to those who have become a Hospice Heart, your monthly donations are enabling care each and every day.

Liz and husband David