Volunteering duo Eleanor and her dog Buddy encourage others to give back this new year

A volunteer at Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice, together with her therapy dog tells of the work they do to help those under the care and support of the hospice.

“If I can make a patient smile then I feel like I have achieved something.”  Says volunteer Eleanor Monks, 82, who volunteers with therapy dog Buddy at Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice in Oxenhope.

Eleanor began volunteering eight years ago after wanting to give something back after the support she received from Sue Ryder Nurses when her husband died.

Eleanor said: “Without Sue Ryder Nurses being there when my husband was diagnosed with cancer, things would have felt impossible.

“My husband was diagnosed with bowel cancer and only given 12 weeks to live. He wanted to stay at home, and I had no experience of nursing or cancer so it was very difficult. One a nurse called Christine from Sue Ryder turned up and changed everything, she was a lifeline for us.

“She came every day and showed me how to help him and told me what to expect, and even supported me after he died. Volunteering is my way of saying thank you.”

Eleanor’s volunteering roles have varied over the years but more recently she decided to get her dog Buddy tested to become a therapy dog. Since then, Buddy has worked alongside Eleanor helping people at drop in services, day therapy sessions and more recently on the ward of Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice.

Eleanor continued: “If I can make somebody smile then it has been worthwhile coming in for me. Buddy has such a big impact on the patients, to see a little white fluffy thing lying on the bed with them, it cheers them up so much. Every time we walk onto the ward someone will come up to him to say hello - I am just somebody on the end of a lead!”

As well as volunteering at the hospice, Eleanor also makes ‘memory elephants’ – patchwork elephants made from clothes of people who have died so families can remember them.

Eleanor said: “A few years ago I was watching the news, and a lady was making teddy bears from one favourite garment. I decided to start making patchwork memory elephants, because elephants don’t forget, and we don’t forget our loved ones.

“The reaction to them has been amazing. People are often sad at first because it reminds them of the person who has died, but then they always say how lovely it is to have something so special to remember their loved one.

“If you are considering volunteering at Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice this new year, I would say do it. It is a fantastic place to be with so much positivity, and there’s so many different volunteering roles to be a part of.”

Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice is always looking for drivers and receptionists to join its fantastic volunteer team. If you are interested in volunteering this new year or want to know more, you can call Volunteer Coordinator Andy Longden on 01535 640179 or email andy.longden@sueryder.org