While counting herself lucky that she’s never known anyone who’s needed Saint Francis Hospice‘s care, Patricia Flavell admitted that moment could come at any time.
‘Local people are always going to need the Hospice,’ she said. ‘I’ve heard nothing but great things about what the Hospice does, so we must do our bit to keep it going.’
A dressmaker from the age of 17, Patricia’s clients in the 1960s included none other than Dame Shirley Bassey. ‘She liked fitted, sparkly ones!’ Patricia remembered. ‘I’d always get a buzz when I saw her wearing a dress I’d made for her.’
Now 80 years young, Patricia prefers to shun the limelight and make things a little less glitzy, but just as essential as the Dame’s outfits: facemasks for Upminster residents. She kindly decided to donate the money from the sales of the face coverings to the Hospice while throwing in some free masks for local nursing and residential homes to boot.
Within two hours of posting on Facebook, Patricia received over 200 orders. Selling at £2.50 apiece, she sewed 950 masks over 475 hours and raised an incredible £2,000.
Patricia has also been prolific in collecting over £5,000 for the Hospice – come rain or shine – outside Queen’s Theatre in Hornchurch.
You don’t need to be a whizz on a sewing machine to help Saint Francis Hospice’s patients. You can do something incredible for people living with life-limiting illnesses by supporting the Charity’s Urgent Appeal for as little as £3 a month. That’s less than a cup of coffee, a pint of beer, or glass of wine.
