North Wales volunteer praises Marie Curie for support

A volunteer, who began giving her time to Marie Curie after nurses cared for her late husband, is celebrating six years of supporting the charity this Christmas – saying volunteering saved her life.

Pam Hunt, who volunteers in the Rhyl office five mornings a week – and also takes part in fundraising activities, including collections during big campaigns – has become a vital part of the team since joining in December 2011.

Speaking about how she first came into contact with Marie Curie, Pam said: “I received support from the Marie Curie nursing service when my husband, Brian, became unwell.

“Brian had been ill with prostate cancer for six years.  In 2009, he was diagnosed - after no symptoms - with bowel cancer.  But it had already gone to his liver, so it couldn’t be operated on.  So they said he would have palliative care, but he did also have chemo to keep him going for as long as possible. 

“Brian was a very big, strong man, so it was a big shock to us, but for that first year it was manageable because he could still walk about and take himself out and things like that.   

“But…. in around March 2011 it became clear that he was weakening.  He couldn’t go out.”

That summer, they were told Brian would stop receiving chemotherapy and only receive palliative care.  District Nurses were visiting the couple at home, with three visits a day at the point of most need, helping Pam provide personal care to Brian.

“Then one day in September or October, the nurse came in the morning and the night before he had tried to get out of bed,” she said.

“The healthcare assistant said to me “you’ve had a really rough night”.

“I said well yeah, it was a horrible night and she said that’s it you’re having some night help.

“She got me Marie Curie, and the nurses came about twice or three times each week for that next three or four weeks.  I just thought they were wonderful. 

“The first night I asked if I should just sit in the other room incase she needed me, and she said no, no, the whole point is you go to sleep, go to have a bath, visit your daughter if you want as long as you are back here for 7 in the morning.

“They were just so helpful and lovely, it’s the relief of the support that made the difference to me.”

Following Brian’s death, Pam sent donations to the Marie Curie office in Rhyl and on receiving a letter of thanks, contacted the office offering help.

Pam sent references and said she wanted to start volunteering as soon as possible, adding: “I was distraught and I had to have a reason to get up in the morning. 

“It saved my life.  I can’t emphasise how much I idolised him, but I still get very tearful when I think of him, so I don’t think I would have coped.”

Pam’s work involves accounting and phoning people to sign them up for collections.

“Brian would be so thrilled that I am doing this. I absolutely love it.

“The things I have gained from it are not just an occupied day, not just a feeling that Brian would be thrilled, but also that I am meeting people.”

Can you support Marie Curie this Christmas or in the New Year?  Visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/volunteering to find out what different roles are available.