Rachel White and her family have supported St Barnabas Hospice since her mum, Tricia Austin, was cared for by the Bourne Hospice at Home team in the autumn of 2017. In 2019, they began a new Christmas tradition in memory of Tricia and in support of the Hospice.
Rachel said, “I was fed up of putting crackers out every year, so when I saw that St Barnabas were selling scratch cards for Christmas, I thought ‘that’s it!’ Money raised from each scratch card will help care for more people like my mum at one of the most difficult times in their life. It seems such a fitting way for us to remember her and to support a great charity.
“Each year we order an extra scratch card and put it at the empty space around the table where Mum used to sit so she is still part of our Christmas dinner.
“Mum was cared for by the Bourne Hospice at Home team after being diagnosed with an advanced sarcoma. The care was simply fantastic. Everyone who came to visit was so gentle, kind and caring with her and the Hospice even supported my dad and I too. We will never forget this team of angels, including a wonderful nurse called Majella who went above and beyond for us all.
“I have so many special memories of Christmas when Mum was still alive – we always played games and there was so much fun and laughter. Christmas just isn’t the same without her. We do still play games, but her laughter isn’t there anymore.
“We had a winning scratch card the first year we played, and it has brought a lot of joy to us at what is a very difficult time of year for those who have lost loved ones. Buying these scratch cards every year is now a family tradition, helping us to feel closer to Mum each Christmas.”
Scratch cards cost just £1 each to buy and prizes range from £1 to £1,000. You could put yours around the table like Rachel or start a different Christmas tradition by sending them in cards, putting them in stockings or even using them in homemade crackers.
If you ordered just £8 worth of scratch cards, this would pay for a special Christmas dinner for a patient staying in the Hospice over Christmas.
Order your Christmas scratch cards today from www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/scratchcards