Georgie climbs the 02 for St Clare

By Eric White

ST Clare volunteer, Goolmohr “Georgie” Cantel, has gone to new heights for the hospice she loves by climbing the iconic O2 – formerly known as the Millennium Dome – to raise vital funds.

On Saturday 7th May the 81 year old grandmother of four, who has lived in Bishop’s Stortford for 38 years, undertook the 52m climb up one of London’s most famous buildings. The intrepid urban explorer took on the challenge to raise money for St Clare Hospice, the charity she has volunteered with for over 4 years.

Georgie (pictured above), who volunteers on the Inpatient Unit at the Hospice, said: “I started volunteering at St Clare’s in 2012 after completing my degree in Voluntary Sector Studies.

“I feel very passionately about the hospice movement and how important the care is for our community. I wanted to support my local Hospice by volunteering my time and caring for the patients and families who come to St Clare.

“My role involves helping on the Inpatient Unit and I volunteer every Monday afternoon.

I make cups of tea and coffee for the patients and families, take their food orders down to the kitchen, and serve their meals. Sometimes I help the patients to eat their meals if they need it.

“St Clare’s is such a lovely place, full of cheerfulness and laughter. My favourite part of volunteering is getting to speak to the patients, holding their hands, and helping them to feel calm and safe.

“I remember one patient who kept saying to me, ‘I love it here – it is like paradise’. Another man kept asking for tea with two sugars, and he liked the tea I made so much that he had about 6 cups! I am also there to support the families – sometimes they might cry on my shoulder, or just need a comforting cup of tea and a kind word.”

Speaking about the O2 climb, Georgie said: “I was looking for a new challenge to undertake for St Clare and had heard about the O2 climb from some of the nurses at the hospice. They had done the climb, and said it was amazing, so I thought – why not give it a go for St Clare!”

“I climbed and descended the roof of the O2 on Saturday 7 May and it was great fun! I am not afraid of heights so I just found it exciting. You have to wear non-slip boots, a harness and are attached to a metal rail by a clasp to keep you safe. Next time I want to abseil down the Shard – but I will have to persuade them to let me!”

Georgie is one of more than 550 volunteers who regularly give their time and expertise in support of St Clare Hospice – more than 28 of whom volunteer on the Inpatient Unit.

Next week, St Clare Hospice will be joining with hundreds of other charities across the country to mark Volunteers’ Week 2016 (1-12 June) and will be celebrating the contribution of their volunteers by hosting thank you parties and afternoon teas in their honour.

So far Georgie has raised over £1,000 through her O2 climb. You can still support her and donate to St Clare by visiting her Just Giving page here:www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Goolmohr-Cantel

For more information about how you can volunteer with St Clare Hospice, visit their website at www.stclarehospice.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer or contact their Voluntary Services Manager, Chris Crump, directly on[email protected] or call 01279 773722.